Scrolling socials, Online Shopping, and Gaming May Be Mor...

What’s Happening

Listen up: Discover that the the internet s impact on stress is nuanced and understanding it can improve our well-being in a digital world.

In our fast-paced, stressful lives, we’re often seeking refuge online to find instant relaxation. Many of us turn to scrolling socials, online shopping (often referred to as retail therapy), or gaming to escape daily pressures. (and honestly, same)

But, the experience can often be the opposite, leaving us more drained or restless after logging off.

The Details

This raises the question: do we scroll because we’re stressed, or are we stressed because we scroll? From over 1,500 participants over seven months through a tracking program, data scientists from Finland’s Aalto University are offering new insights.

“Previous studies have shown that socials and online shopping are often used to relieve stress,” dropped lead study author Mohammed Belal, a researcher at the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University, in a press statement . “but, our results show that a rise in socials use or online shopping is linked to an increase in self-reported stress across multiple user groups and across devices.

Why This Matters

” : Is a Shopping Addiction Real? Understanding the the internet’s Impact on Our Well-Being As online presence becomes a larger part of everyday life, determining its overall impact on well-being is increasingly difficult. Research still lacks definitive answers, particularly around how specific online behaviors influence stress levels, Belal broke down.

The scientific community tends to find developments like this significant.

The Bottom Line

To better understand the nuances of stress and the internet use, Belal’s team conducted one of the first studies to record real-world the internet usage through tracking software installed on participants’ devices. Combined with a large sample size and a lengthy observation period, the findings offer especially valuable insight into how online habits intersect with stress.

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