A reason why social scrolling creates depression and anxiety is bc your brain has a negativity bias to search for threats. Once you feel the threat, your brain wants to find an all-clear signal to know the threat is no longer present. The variable reward of the next post being that all-clear signal keeps you scrolling. Keeping you in a hyper aroused state 24/7. Some ways to break this: + choose fixed windows to be on social media + consume a single long form source vs scrolling + 24 social fast 1x week Evidence In 111 healthy students (mean age 23) Limiting screen time to >2 hours/day for 3 weeks statistically improved depressive and stress symptoms, as well as sleep quality.  Following the intervention, screen time increased rapidly, and symptoms worsened again, indicating a causal link.