Social Media and Brain Rot

A short article/notes on the use of the social media and its implications on the brain

1. Using social media is not equal to relaxing
2. Social media is not what you need to break out of the normal work, scrolling social media itself is work in itself
3. While doom-scrolling, addictive gaming or social media usage, the prefrontal cortex that is responsible for cognitive tasks and controlling the actions is not in use and we are stuck in a loop of the limbic section of the brain

To Break Free of the social media brain rot, you need five elements:

1. Curiosity– Something useful and important to feed your brain in the free time or the break period, not the usual random pile of videos. Curiosity also will help you choose what you want to see, instead of the algorithms forcing you to consume whatever content is present.
2. Creativity– Something that pushes you to use your prefrontal cortex and be in control of your self and do some action that feeds your desire to be creative. Some actions that justify as creativity are talking, writing, tweeting/sharing thoughts or reviews, speaking to people about the information gained or actually performing actions to make something out of the resources and information.
3. Compartments- Creating clear cut boundaries of space and time for the usage of these platforms and tools to curb the brain rot.
4. Connections- Building real world connections and using social media as a way to connect to the real world and not to escape from it.
5. Training the Prefrontal Cortex- Goal Directed Behavior (Prediction of Behavior), Pattern Recognition (Sudoku and Puzzles), Languages (Practice Speech and Writing), Inhibition (Controlling the Limbic System), Movement (Candle Test, Trataka Meditation, Physical Exercise). Using the Kickstarter Strategy – Wake up from the workplace, move around for 1-3 minutes swinging your arms to get a higher dopamine hit, helping you to motivate to do the task at hand.