WHY DOES CUTTING DOWN FEEL IMPOSSIBLE?
Instant gratification makes cutting back difficult – perhaps explaining why two-thirds of teen respondents in the same CNA-IPS survey struggle to do so.
Social media and video apps hijack the brain’s dopamine system, creating a cycle of constant novelty-seeking. Every “like”, notification and video provides a tiny dopamine hit – much like a slot machine, where the occasional win keeps users hooked.
Over time, this essentially rewires the brain, making stillness feel unbearable and focus increasingly difficult. And the consequences extend beyond social media.
In the US, nearly 60 per cent of adults admit to checking their phones while driving, and one in four workers believe they’re more distracted on the job now than in previous years, with over half naming social media as a top culprit.
Screens have become so central to our daily lives that a digital detox feels less like a healthy reset and more like withdrawal, triggering anxiety and discomfort.
Moreover, these platforms are engineered for compulsive use. Infinite scrolling, autoplay functions and push notifications are designed to maximise engagement, while algorithms strategically amplify content that elicits extreme emotional responses – sensational news, outrage, and so on.
Cutting down is hard – not because we lack willpower, but because these systems are designed to make moderation feel unnatural.
To make matters worse, social reinforcement deepens our dependence. When everyone around us is plugged in, unplugging feels isolating. The pressure to stay connected keeps us trapped.
