Doomscrolling linked to memory and attention-span loss

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled 71 studies and 98,299 participants. Heavier short-form video use was linked to poorer cognition overall, with the strongest associations appearing in attention and inhibitory control. In plain English: the more you scroll, the harder it becomes to stay focused on one thing and to resist the urge to scroll again later.

Another aspect of brain health the study measured is working memory. Working memory is the mind’s scratchpad: it holds the beginning of a sentence while you reach the end, keeps instructions active while you complete a task, and lets a movie plot build instead of dissolving between scenes. In the study, habitual, unintentional scrolling predicted working-memory disruption alongside attention difficulty and cognitive fatigue. This means social media scrolling is not only taking your time, but also your ability to stay focused and perform well while focused. Time, focus, and memory—all taken by one addiction.

Most people try to break this pattern through willpower and impulse control. But infinite feeds are specifically designed to hijack that control, making them hard to resist even when you want to stop. Constant notifications, bright colors, endless videos, and algorithms that promote whatever succeeds at keeping you hooked all work against you.

To rebuild your attention, you need to create locked-down stretches of time when accessing social media is not even an option. This is what SHIFT is helping people accomplish. SHIFT is the only screen-time blocker that cannot be bypassed because of its unique design. Instead of using a phone app, SHIFT is controlled from your Mac or PC. When you activate it, every distraction is removed from your phone. You can use Schedules or Focus Sessions to have your phone shift and unshift automatically throughout the day. While those sessions are active, they cannot be turned off—even from the computer—until the timer runs out. That gives your mind enough uninterrupted time to remember what sustained attention feels like.