A new trend has emerged on my TikTok for you page: anti-scrolling. As opposite as it sounds, people online have been pushing back against their habits of spending all day on their phones consuming content. Whether people are feeling the effects of doomscrolling on their mental or physical health or are simply being tired of wasting their time, people seem to be rebelling against spending their time online.

I do enjoy scrolling on my phone, but there is a difference between intentionally scrolling for a few minutes to decompress and spending all day “rotting” on your phone. 

Rotting refers to the habit of laying in bed scrolling on your phone for a long period of time. A lot of time, the act of rotting is unintentional, simply a habit that you cannot seem to break.

One of the biggest challenges of becoming less online is replacing your time. It can be hard to go from constant stimulation from your phone to the silence and thoughts of your own mind. However, as many proponents of the anti-scrolling trend say, we are not supposed to be consuming content all the time. We should be creating and living our own lives, not watching someone else’s.

My favorite time replacement is known as a craft bag or basket. It is a bag, basket or other storage item that holds all of your hobby materials. In my craft basket, I keep my journal, coloring books, iPad, Nintendo Switch, my current read, lotion, chargers, pens and more. I keep this basket nearby my bed and try to intentionally devote time to my hobbies rather than scroll on my phone. 

I do think it is interesting that people are moving away from the online world, especially during the rise of artificial intelligence. Personally, I am tired of feeling sluggish and tired after scrolling on my phone. There are hobbies I have wanted to pursue, but I never seemed to have the time. Now, I can devote time to myself, feeding my relationship with myself and my mental health. 

Additionally, social media networks know more information about us than ever. Algorithms can create a feed of content it knows you will enjoy, spending more time on the platform and possibly spending your own money. The addition of the TikTok Shop to the TikTok app allows creators and brands to advertise to their audiences. However, the number of ads you can encounter while scrolling is overwhelming. People do not want to be sold to when they are trying to relax.

It seems that people are tired of being told what to think. In my own experience, I notice that my mental health worsens, and I feel dumber when I spend a lot of time on my phone. Scrolling is not adding to my life, so why am I letting it control me?

Of course, stopping a habit you have been building for years is not as simple as just stopping. Replacing your time and recognizing your own habits goes a long way in breaking your habits and changing your behavior. Try to slow down a bit. Process your thoughts and feelings instead of numbing yourself by scrolling. Be uncomfortable with quiet and boredom. Over time, you will feel more peaceful. 

And if we stop giving all of our attention to these corporations and focus on ourselves and our communities, the world will be better for it. 

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