"Has anyone ever told you that the way that they reset after an intense experience is to sit down with their phone to maybe watch a funny video or two? It makes sense: laughter lowers cortisol and releases endorphins, shifting how we feel in our bodies, and if our phones can provide an easy laugh, then of course we'll keep looking to them."
"There's a vast difference between watching a funny video or two and problematic smartphone usage (PSU), which research describes as the inability to control or regulate smartphone use, detrimentally affecting activities of daily life and relationships. PSU is further indicated by symptoms of withdrawal, anger, restlessness or anxiety when the device is not available (Ndayambaje, 2025). But what happens to our nervous systems when one or two funny videos turns into an hour of scrolling, maybe followed by another?"
Smartphone use can provide brief emotional relief through laughter but can escalate into problematic smartphone usage (PSU), defined by inability to control use and withdrawal symptoms such as anger, restlessness, or anxiety when the device is unavailable. The effects on athletic performance depend on content type, duration and frequency of use, and individual vulnerabilities like age and pre-existing mental-health conditions. Evidence indicates that at least thirty minutes of scrolling can reduce decision-making performance and lower capacity for training load for at least thirty minutes afterward, with some studies reporting effects lasting two or more hours. Athletes can mitigate these costs by understanding physiological impacts and moderating device use.
Read at Psychology Today
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