For the most part, the more time spent on social media and the more quantity of content that's consumed, gives a tangible experience of having your mind cooked, as in squeezing out all the mental energy, leaving you drained and lethargic.
Actually, the modern term is "doom scrolling", your eyes become vague, your mind shuts down and you're stuck in this state of passive receptivity, where nothing you consume is digested but only chewed and discarded, over and over again, so to speak.
I think most if not all social media algorithms, especially for short form content, have inherently become control tools to numb the minds of its users as much as possible, gradually turning them into mindless drones, incapable of independent thought or action.
Mind Numb And Escapism
I'm no exemption from mind numb, this happens to me every now and then. Even though I may be aware that it's happening, part of me still lets it happen. Blamed it on under-developed willpower, for the most part.
To me, such a state of mindless consumption that's detrimental to our mental health is only a tip of the iceberg.
The real and profound impact is in how it influences our ability to engage with the world around us, which is very crucial for our individual growth, cultivating a sense of purpose or finding fulfillment in life.
Nowadays, we're generally less empathetic, less curious, and less inclined to take action on the issues that truly matter.
Arguably, I'll say our collective thoughts and opinions are shaped more by algorithms than by our own experiences and values. And a natural effect of that is we gravitate towards becoming mere spectators, watching the world go by through the lens of our screens instead of actively participating in it.
At least, our ancestors didn't had many outlets for escapism. At most, they had books, newspapers and radio broadcasts to distract them.
But for us, it's right at our fingertips, constantly sucking us into a world of virtual reality where we try to escape the problems of the real world.
Temporal Fix
The thing about escapism is that it doesn't offer any lasting solutions, if any solutions at all. Any resolve achieved through avoidance only serves to perpetuate the problems we're trying to escape.
A case can be made for conscious and temporary escapism, as in taking a break to recharge from the craziness of this unreally real world. Sometimes, the tool isn't the problem but how it is used.
That said, doom scrolling isn't in any case a tool that can be wielded for good. In my view, there's no good aspects to it.
The type of escapism I'm referring to here is something like getting lost in a good book or playing an engaging game. But mind you, there's always a fine and often blurry line between conscious relaxation and mindless indulgence.
In any case, after all the creative juices are gone, I can do some brainless tasks, for some time.
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