By Nwaibe Jennifer chinaza/300level Mass Communication UNILAG 

The Science Behind Why We Can’t Look Away

When we find ourselves unable to stop scrolling through a feed of negative news, we often blame a lack of willpower or self-discipline. However, a scientific look at the human brain suggests that this behavior is actually a biological response to specific environmental triggers. This article explores the process of how our brains interact with technology, moving away from judgment and toward an understanding of the habit loops and chemical processes that keep us hooked. By seeing doomscrolling as a result of design and biology, we can better understand the difficulty of breaking the cycle.

The human brain has evolved over millions of years with a primary goal: survival. In ancient environments, being hyper-aware of danger was a significant advantage. An individual who was attuned to the sounds of a predator or the signs of a coming storm was more likely to survive than one who was distracted by pleasant scenery. This is known as "negativity bias." Our brains are naturally wired to prioritize information that seems threatening because, historically, that information was the most important for staying alive. Today, we no longer face the same physical predators, but our brains treat "breaking news" and viral alerts with the same level of urgency.

At the center of this process is a chemical called dopamine. While many people think of dopamine as a pleasure chemical, its primary function is actually related to motivation and reward-seeking. It is the chemical that tells the brain, "Something interesting is happening; pay attention." When we use a smartphone, every new post, every notification, and every like triggers a small release of dopamine. This creates a powerful cycle known as a habit loop. The loop begins with a cue, perhaps the sight of your phone or a feeling of boredom. This leads to the action of scrolling, which results in the reward of new information.

The problem with doomscrolling is that the reward is often something that makes us feel worse, yet the brain still registers the novelty of the information as a success. Each time you swipe down to refresh a feed and see a new headline, your brain gets a tiny hit of dopamine because it has found something new. This is why we can feel exhausted and anxious while still feeling an irresistible urge to keep scrolling. We are caught in a cycle where the brain is constantly seeking a reward that never truly satisfies us. The infinite scroll feature of modern apps is specifically designed to exploit this, ensuring that there is never a natural stopping point to break the loop.

This process is further complicated by how social media apps manage attention. Features like autoplaying videos, breaking news banners, and vivid imagery are all designed to trigger the brain’s survival instincts. When you see a shocking headline, your brain’s amygdala, the area responsible for emotional processing, reacts before your logical mind has a chance to intervene. This is why you might find yourself clicking on a distressing link before you have even fully decided to read it. The design of the technology is working in harmony with your biology to keep your attention fixed on the screen.

Understanding this science is vital for students because it removes the stigma of weakness. It is much harder to fight a biological instinct than it is to simply be more disciplined. When you understand that your brain is trying to protect you by seeking out information, but is being confused by the sheer volume of digital data, you can approach the problem with more compassion for yourself. It is a conflict between ancient survival mechanisms and modern software engineering.

To conclude, the difficulty of looking away from bad news is rooted in the very chemicals and instincts that once kept us safe. Dopamine and our natural negativity bias create a cycle that is incredibly difficult to break through sheer force of will. However, by understanding these processes, we can start to see the digital world for what it is: an environment that has been engineered to capture our attention. Knowledge of these biological process is the first step in learning how to navigate the digital landscape without being controlled by it.