& this is not a doomscroll – exploring the state of scrolling paralysis

& this is not a doomscroll is an artist book, exploring what happens when I try to interrupt scrolling paralysis without abandoning the phone altogether.  It is both a personal reflection and an invitation to consider how intentionally we engage with our digital devices.

Even our grandparents know how to doomscroll. The addiction to fast, endless media is worsened by our tendency to justify the habit as a treat. In reality, this behavior is a state of mind that deserves to be questioned. Doomscrolling, also known as scrolling paralysis, interferes with both mental and physical health. But this is not just an individual problem.

The paradox of digital engagement, being constantly connected, yet emotionally and mentally detached. The contents on the phone have shaped a new kind of behavior and new kinds of relationships, which have shifted our values, often without us realizing it. Interactions are increasingly filtered through screens, attention is pulled in multiple directions at once, conversations compete with notifications, and moments are measured by how shareable they are, rather than by their depth. Over time, that has changed not only how we connect with others but also how we connect with ourselves.

Social media builds a version of presence that is not physical. It rewards constant visibility and curated selves. We measure ourselves against profiles rather than people, and invest energy in identities that exist in pixels. Part of this project looks at that gap between a polished online self and the private person behind it.

“Every time I post online, I scatter pieces of myself across the internet.”

My design process has been driven by a strong need to make the invisible visible; to turn internal, personal experiences like scrolling paralysis, fatigue, and digital burnout into something tactile and tangible. While the topic of digital addiction is widely acknowledged, the emotional weight and nuanced symptoms often remain hard to visualize. This project attempts to interpret those feelings and patterns into a communicable format that invites reflection rather than judgment.

This project is grounded in two key practices: digital gardening and digital minimalism. Both approaches encourage intentional interaction with technology, slow media consumption, and a reconnection with one’s thoughts and environment.

reach for your phone to scroll

journal

move

go outside

avoid responsibilities

procrastinate

let yourself be bored

dream & wonder

dance

watch a video podcast

read a book

let yourself rest and be still

If you wish to see the artist book in full, contact me.