Studies of prolonged or repetitive scrolling have reported associations with fear of missing out (FOMO), problematic smartphone use and self-reported distress. These findings are useful for describing patterns of digital behaviour, but they do not show that scrolling itself causes a mental-health disorder.
Many studies in this area rely on questionnaires collected at a single point in time. That makes direction difficult to establish: people who already feel anxious or compelled to stay connected may scroll more, while heavy platform use may also reinforce those feelings.
Terms such as “binge-scrolling” are descriptive rather than formal diagnoses. The more clinically relevant question is whether digital use is interfering with sleep, work, relationships or daily functioning.
Practical strategies such as disabling unnecessary notifications, setting device-free periods and noticing when scrolling displaces sleep or other activities may help some people. Persistent anxiety or compulsive behaviour that causes significant impairment is better discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
