There are more and more social media accounts from creators trying to turn people off automatic doomscrolling and warn them about excessive time spent in front of screens.
Infinitely looping videos on TikTok and Instagram are a familiar trap for millions of users, turning a quick 10-minute break into hours upon hours of doomscrolling.
Some creators, however, are using this same format that captures attention for encourage viewers to pausereflect and reduce the time spent in front of screens.
Olivia’s Showknown online as Olivia Unplugged, is among this new generation of “anti-scroll” influencers. Their videos subtly interrupt feeds, often reminding viewers that they may not even remember the content they saw two videos earlier.
“People comment and say it’s ironic that I’m publishing, and I think, ‘Where else could I find you?‘”, the creator explained to , noting that being present where users are is the most effective way to reach them.
@olivia.unplugged Main Character Energy = boredom + imagination + awareness of your own existence. Try setting boundaries with Opal and get back into it 😉 #maincharacter #creativity #daydreaming #opalapp ♬ original sound – Olivia Unplugged
Yokubonis works for Opal, a screen time management app, but her videos are largely free of explicit branding. Your content aims raise awareness about the excessive use of social media and the millions of views it has already accumulated indicate that the approach is reaching its target audience.
Experts highlight the growing importance of these interventions. Ofir Turel, a professor at the University of Melbourne, found that many users are shocked when they encounter real screen time statistics. “Most people have no idea how much time they spend on social media,” he explains, which often leads them to voluntarily reduce their use.
Ian A. Anderson, postdoctoral researcher at Caltech, considered these “feed interruptions” an interesting way to intervene, although he warned that regular users may not fully engage with the messages.
The debate about “addiction” to social media adds complexity. Although many people report feeling addicted to apps, research shows that just a small fraction meets clinical criteria for dependence. Anderson’s study of Instagram users found that while 18% identified as at least somewhat addicted, only 2% showed symptoms consistent with actual addiction. Wrong perceptions can make self-control difficult.
For those looking to reduce usage, experts recommend practical strategies: disable notificationsmove applications on your cell phone or avoid taking your cell phone to certain spaces, such as the bedroom.
It’s also important that you don’t be too hard on yourself. “There is an entire infrastructure — a army of nerds whose only job is to make you increase the time you spend on these platforms. There’s a whole machine trying to make you act this way, and it’s not your fault, and you’re not going to overcome this with willpower alone,” says Cat Goetze, known online as CatGPT, who creates content about artificial intelligence based on her experience in the technology industry.
Goetze also founded the company Physical Phones, which makes Bluetooth landline phones that connect to smartphones, encouraging people to spend less time on their devices. The inside of the packaging features the phrase “offline is the new luxury“.
By turning feeds into moments of reflection, creators prove that sometimes the best way to encourage people to unplug is… by showing up right where they’re plugged in.
