A study by Durham University revealed that scrolling through social media, specifically Instagram, causes unusual stress responses, including increased sweating and altered heart rates in young adults. Researchers observed 54 participants browsing Instagram and found physiological responses that differentiated social media use from simply reading news. Despite varying levels of social media addiction symptoms, all participants exhibited heightened anxiety and stress when interrupted from their scrolling. Over half of Americans aspire to reduce their phone usage, highlighting the growing concern around excessive screen time and potential addiction behaviors.
The researchers' study noted that scrolling through Instagram caused an increase in sweating among participants while significantly reducing their heart rate compared to merely reading news articles.
Participants who were interrupted while scrolling continued to sweat and reported feelings of anxiety, almost as if undergoing withdrawal from a substance, indicating a deeper physical and psychological connection to social media.
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