Anti-Scroll Remedy: Social Media Fights Doomscrolling with In-App Nudges

• Olivia Yokubonis (Olivia Unplugged) creates content on social media to interrupt mindless scrolling and encourage users to put down their phones.
• Working with screen-time app Opal, Yokubonis's authentic approach has garnered millions of views, helping users reduce screen time.
• Research by Professor Ofir Turel shows many users are shocked by their actual screen-time data and voluntarily reduce usage.
• Experts debate whether excessive social media use is an addiction, with some noting symptoms like withdrawal and cravings, while others emphasize perception's role.
• Yan A. Anderson suggests small changes like removing apps from the home screen or turning off notifications can effectively reduce habitual checking.

Why It Matters: Content creators are using social media itself to help users combat doomscrolling and encourage more intentional screen time.