Doom-scrolling is affecting our productivity.

As I sit here writing, trying to focus on this article before I attack my work inbox, I know I will have to constantly resist switching tabs or looking at the latest notifications on my phone. I like to think I am immune to persuasion and manipulation, but what I am realizing more and more is that I am often defenseless against the algorithms stalking me for my attention. Their tactics: aggressively feeding me bad news and outrage.

A trait about me that maybe I shouldn't admit is that I lean a little on the pessimist side. Overt optimism can be grating to me especially when it seems unrealistic or contrived. The upside to a slight pessimist bent is that I am rarely caught off guard or surprised to the down side. I am more often pleasantly surprised when that which I assumed would turn out poorly, ended up just fine or not nearly as catastrophic as I had imagined. Hope for the best and expect the worst, as they say.

I may be a "Downer Dan," but I'm careful not to rain on others' parades. I'm optimistic around others within reason but don't offer obnoxious optimism like, "At least you'll save on socks now that you've lost a leg." Some people just want to cope with bad events by commiserating. Discussing the bright side comes later and suggestions should exist within the realm of possibilities, which is what my good friends do for me. They provide objective advice within the scope of reality.

The real danger with a pessimist disposition is the opaque social media algorithms which I feel my kind are more susceptible to.

As they say: "if it bleeds it leads". This can manifest instantly on Twitter or Instagram feeds. If I engage with catastrophe or an outrageous post that's meant to provoke me, the algorithm kicks in and fetches more of that content, sending me down a rabbit hole of misery and outrage. It's a negative feedback loop as I scroll, hoping for something that will make me feel better, but only receiving more blood-boiling clickbait. My mood is affected, even if I don't realize it.

Mood is the operating system for our brains and regulating it is crucial. Without a stable mood, we can't plan, handle basic tasks, be creative, be decisive, or perform any other functions required for success at home or at work. If I have a big presentation or a complex email to handle, it's much easier to do so if I haven't spent my morning coffee time doom-scrolling on social media. When I complete my tasks for the day, I feel a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and stability. But if I get pulled into the WW3 or hyperinflation doom vortex, it's difficult to focus and I become agitated, making me more likely to scroll for relief that never comes.

The Allegory of the Cave and doom-scrolling.

The allegory of the cave is a story told by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato to explain his theory of Forms and how our understanding of the world is limited by our senses. It portrays a group of people who have lived their entire lives in a dark cave, seeing only shadows of reality cast on the cave walls by a fire behind them. The allegory is meant to show that the reality we perceive through our senses is not true reality and that there is a higher reality, beyond our physical senses, that can be known through reason and philosophical inquiry.

The shadows of reality cast by the social media algorithms can keep us trapped in Plato's cave. If you spend all day watching robbery videos on Instagram then you will start to believe you may get robbed every time you step outside. Much of the algorithm's inputs are simply a function of fear. People fear getting robbed, so they click on the videos, training the algorithm to surface more robbery videos.

While it's unrealistic to expect us to put down our phones permanently (though I do fantasize about this at times), being more thoughtful about when we scroll and how it is affecting our mood can be a great boost to mood and productivity.

Last year I read "Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World" by Cal Newton. This book goes into depth (pun intended) about the distractions that keep us from producing meaningful results. Even as I struggle to write this in one sitting, my phone has pinged 4 times, this LinkedIn page has 7 new notifications, and my Twitter tab has a new red dot telling me someone has replied to me. If I let these distractions in, then I won't finish this article. It takes a good amount of mental effort to resist the temptation. Some would call this discipline though that seems to be a taboo topic these days.

The best analogy I can think of is the strain I feel when pushing through the last two reps on the bench press. I have to focus intensely and resist the temptation to give in. It hurts in the moment but I feel so much better afterward, just like I'll feel better after getting through this article in one sitting without giving into distractions. That moment of exertion to failure in the gym is exactly where muscle growth happens. Same with building your focus.

Billions of dollars in revenue are generated by algorithms that track us individually and then learn specifically what provokes us, only to feed us more of that very content. This is meant to drive clicks and profit, not entertain us in a healthy or informative way. This can create a negative feedback loop and will usually put us in a crappy unproductive mood looking for any other distraction to make us feel better. I don't know about you, but I don't appreciate being constantly provoked.

Thankfully I grew up before the smart phone and social media revolution. While I missed out on becoming a TikTok star, I feel grateful that I am able to regulate my doom-scrolling and identify when the machine is pulling me in a direction that doesn't suit my best interests.

Social media companies have a lot of work to do. I am a grown adult, deeply affected by algorithms. Young people whose brains are still forming don't stand a chance. Social media platforms need to find a healthy profit-agnostic balance, not simply feed us more of the same content that provokes a reaction. Until the algorithm is fixed, it's up to us to monitor our own behavior and be vigilant with our attention, for that is the very commodity that is being robbed from us. Digital colonialism I call it.

One thing I can feel optimistic about today - I finished this article without looking at any other apps or notifications. Progress.

If you found this content useful and would like me to continue posting, use the algorithm for good today and share it on your feed.

Now stop scrolling and get to work!