Scroll, Click, Repeat: How ADHD Became a Lifestyle

Doom-scrolling. Revenge bedtime scrolling. Brain-rot. These are all terms that come to the forefront of our minds when we consider how social media apps on our phones have significantly transformed the way we go about our daily lives and have taken over our everyday thoughts. In recent years, more people on social media are willing to throw the term "ADHD" around, signifying that their short attention spans are due to a disorder that they were inherently born with. However, what if this "ADHD brain" that people claim to have is simply the result of the dangerously excessive amount of short-form content we force our brains to consume each day?

Popcorn Brain

In 2011, David Levy, a computer scientist from the University of Washington, first coined the term "popcorn brain" to describe the phenomenon of being so addicted to "electronic multitasking" that the slow pace of real-life experiences no longer interests you. The phenomenon itself is not, however, considered a disease or disorder. It is simply a byproduct of our brain's functioning due to chronic overstimulation that is usually internet-induced. The flashing lights, appealing sounds, and constant swiping up and down are chaotic and can cause your brain to be distracted constantly. This can cause greater detrimental effects on other areas of life, like anxiety, physical health issues, difficulty socializing, and a tolerance for delayed gratification. You are also prone to distractibility.

Anxiety comes from the overwhelming amount of information that is consumed, causing feelings of sadness and frustration as well. Physical health can also be hugely impacted because of the negative effects that screentime, in general, has on sleep, vision, and activity levels. Next, the downfall of socialization can also be a negative result of doom-scrolling, as the convenience of online connections can sometimes hinder the progress of real-life connections and also cause anxiety around the prospect of interacting in person. Lastly, the instant gratification that you receive from swiping from one video or post or another can be habitualized to the point of not delaying other gratifications in our lifestyle.

The Prevalence of ADHD

By some estimates, ADHD may be the most common mental health condition in the world, especially in the age of rapid technological advances. The number of symptomatic adults as of last year, being 366 million in the entire world, raises some questions about how lifestyle changes may have contributed. Moreover, discussion of this disorder is highly controversial, as people hold conflicting opinions about the existence of such a disorder because there are no objective tests - no genetic testing, blood and biochemistry markers, or brain imaging techniques. In most cases, people can brush off such eccentric behavior as personality differences or simply being "high-strung." The other end of the spectrum hyperfocuses on the impulsive nature of some individuals.

However, overall, there has been an increase in ADHD diagnoses. This is partly because there is a reduced stigma around it due to content creators and influencers sharing their story online. According to Dr Karrupiah Jagadheesan, a Melbourne psychiatrist and chair of the ADHD Network Committee at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), there is also a huge number of people who are "often self-diagnosing as a result of social media." Patients walk into a psychiatrist's office seeking treatment for a positive diagnosis they made themselves.

The culture of ADHD is another important factor to consider. Those who have ADHD often suffer from not "fitting in" and the negative consequences, like dropping out of school, ruining relationships, and feeling that they are "bad at life." Some even held the sentiment that medicating was shutting down their true personality.

While ADHD may be on the rise, evidently, there are a number of contributing factors to carefully consider. Some may truly be suffering the consequences of ADHD and need to seek treatment, or maybe you're just overdue for a short social media cleanse.

References:

“5 Things to Know about ‘Popcorn Brain.’” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Sept. 2024, mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/5-things-to-know-about-popcorn-brain/.

Rajeshwari, S., and S. Meenakshi. “The Age of Doom Scrolling - Social Media’s Attractive Addiction.” Journal of Education and Health Promotion, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2023, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10079169/.

The Age. “Why Has Everyone Suddenly Got ADHD?” APS, The Australian Psychological Society Limited, 9 Mar. 2024, psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/aps-in-the-media/2024/why-has-everyone-suddenly-got-adhd.

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