Stop the Scroll

So, you’re scrolling social media.

Is it as bad as they say it is? People compare it to drug addiction, emphasizing the similarities in dopamine receptors in the brain.

In fact, a huge biohacking influencer with Stanford credentials, Dr. Andrew Huberman, has even stated that when we first get on social media, we do get large amounts of dopamine it our system. 

Here’s some quick facts about dopamine:

• It is a Neurotransmitter that your body makes, and your body uses it to send messages between cells

• It’s made by switching amino acid tyrosine to dopa, and then dopamine

• Helps us focus and motivate ourselves to achieve our goals

So- social media. It's a beast of a topic to cover. Hubermann states, in a recent podcast, that the largest dopamine hit when it comes to social media is when we initially get on social media. In this state, we’re on the hunt- prowling for the latest fitness influencer hack, TikTok prank, or Mr. Beast’s next Million Dollar giveaway.

 Thereafter, however, our compulsive scrolling patterns come down to compulsion. Compulsion is the reason we feel meh, yet continue scrolling Twitter, IG, or TikTok. Our habits and compulsive behaviors have taken over.

This begs the question- is there any way we as humans can get out of this hole? And, do we actually want to get out of this hole?

Most humans are probably in between- they don’t want social media to degrade and interfere with their life, but they’re open to scrolling every now and then. To combat excessive social media usage, we highly recommend you time block and systematize when you'll use social media (for example: post 5 pm only). Because let's face it, the natural order of your time is disorder, and without constraints, you may check TikTok every 10 minutes.

You can also consider using a social media blocker. It’s January 2023, so we got some tools for you to limit that pesky social media usage

-Stay free (a website blocker extension with Analytics)- 

-RescueTime (productivity app for mac)

-BlockSite (helps focus when using chrome, firefox, or edge)

For good measure, we asked ChatGPT to code up a TikTok blocker- it didn’t but it provided some quick and dirty techniques for yall:

It emphasizes that you can “edit your host file. The host file is a system file that maps host names to IP addresses. By adding TikTok's hostname to the file and pointing it to a non-existent IP address, you can prevent your device from accessing the app.

You can also try using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to block TikTok. VPNs route your internet traffic through a remote server, making it difficult for websites to track your location. This can help you bypass any geographical restrictions that might be in place on TikTok.” Solid advice.

Anyways, lads, stay focused and use your time. It’s your most precious asset. Peace.