Yesterday I spent 9h 31m on my phone (according to the built-in screen time tracker on my iPhone). It doesn't make me happy, but I can't stop scrolling. I think I have an issue.
What are you scrolling, which app has that hold?
And I'm sure, 100% sure, that I'm not the only one with that problem...
Multiply these numbers across reddit, tiktok, the various international social media giants. Are the >2 billion hours a day people spend glued to their screen limiting social progress? Is it fear mongering and ignorant to even ask? One thing I know for certain is there will be a growing group of people seeking help to limit their watch time on these services. The algorithms are simply too addictive.
[1]: https://youtube.googleblog.com/2017/02/you-know-whats-cool-b...
[2]: https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/06/people-still-spend...
I've found many tricks that help. For example, erasing some urls from autocompletion (fn mayus backspace for chrome in mac) helps fight against the muscle memory, when you have to type the whole thing. There are also extensions like stayfocusd that help. In a smartphone, switching the icons (for example putting ibooks or spottify in place of the broweser) helps.
It's basically a reverse UX problem: you try to create as much friction as possible.
My problem is that it works for a few weeks or so. Then for whatever reason I get to a point where reddit is super useful (like buying a specialized products, where the communities can help get somewhat unbiased opinions and reviews) and I'm back to square one.
This site produces the same effect btw. It's just that the content is at least somewhat limited to a point where checking more than once or twice a day isn't worth it.
Focus on what you want to do instead and use the time on that. Start reading books, go for walks, dance, play an instrument whatever it is. Focus on that instead of narrow focus on screen time.