Desensitized means becoming less emotionally affected by something after seeing or experiencing it over and over
You see a horrible earthquake on TikTok. You don’t think twice about it. I mean, why would you? It’s just another earthquake, one of the other 20 tragedies you have seen just today. Social media has allowed us to see everything happening around the world, but with the constant exposure to those horrific things, they start to feel like just another post. This begs the question: have we become desensitized?
How has social media led to this?
Social media has gave us easier access to our world, but it has also allowed us to consume a large amount of media—and fast. You scroll past a video quickly without really processing what is happening. You see a disaster, a GRWM (Get Ready With Me, a popular social media video trend where creators showcase their daily routines, including skincare, makeup, and outfit selection, while chatting with followers), then a funny video, all in less than a minute. This makes it so when you actually see a horrible thing that happens, it doesn’t carry that emotional weight because it’s simply another video.
How does this affect us?
Well, it does in more ways than you would realize. Starting with us losing empathy, seeing bad things happening all the time makes us feel less empathetic for others. Next, our attention spans. Our attention spans have been affected by how much content we consume and how quickly we consume it.
What does attention span have to do with this ?
The constant stimulation from scrolling has made our cognitive function go down, so when you see something bad happening, you literally can’t process it like we used to unless you are actively trying to. According to psychologist Gloria Mark, who studies attention and digital behavior, attention spans have decreased over time due to constant digital distractions, making it harder for people to fully process what they are seeing.
And lastly, another huge reason is that we have lost the ability to simply be bored.
When you are always stimulating your brain with something (scrolling, etc.), your brain now expects constant input. Like when you’re waiting in line, you probably scroll some more, or anytime you aren’t actively doing something fast-paced. Your brain expects constant stimulation to get a quick dopamine rush—a chemical in your brain that makes you feel good. This is why when you are watching a long movie, you watch something else.
This happening in your brain is why you simply can’t be bored anymore. Your brain now expects that feeling of quick dopamine. Now you can’t simply sit with your own thoughts, making it so even serious things lose their impact.
How can we make a change?
All of this might seem scary, and it can be, but the fact that you are aware of this already puts you a step ahead. So how can we make a change?
Being aware of our habits is the first step. Simply asking yourself, “What am I watching right now?” or “What did I just watch?” makes you aware, and awareness is the first step.
Take a break from your phone
You have heard it hundreds of times, but in reality, it really does help. Even a short 10-minute break makes gives your brain a break so it doesn’t need that constant stimulation. It helps your brain reset a bit so you can think clearer.
Be bored sometimes
You don’t need to doom scroll before bed—I promise you. Allowing yourself to be bored, or simply sitting with your thoughts, helps you process your emotions and allows your brain to reset.
Be more intentional with what you consume
When you’re doom scrolling, you just watch whatever is given to you, but think about it—do you actually need to watch it? If you choose to watch TikTok, that’s fine, but try to be more intentional. Like instead of just mindlessly scrolling, try searching things up about a certain topic instead of just watching whatever is given to you. That way, you’re being intentional with what you are consuming.
In conclusion
Seeing something that happened and scrolling past it without a second thought has become our new normal. And with fast media being consumed in every parts of our day, we have been affected negatively in more ways than we realize. But we can take steps to help us become more aware. So the next time you catch yourself doom scrolling, ask yourself, “What is it that I’m actually watching right now?
