A new MyIQ survey suggests that young people are rejecting algorithmic distraction not with protest, but with quiet acts of digital self-inquiry.
The spectacle is thinning. As Reels, Shorts, and algorithmic feeds dominate digital culture, many 16-24-year-olds are no longer spellbound. Not with rage, but with disinterest, they are opting out, slowly, quietly, from a system designed to keep them scrolling. A new survey conducted by MyIQ, a platform for cognitive and personality assessments, captures the beginnings of this shift: 67% of respondents said they complete at least one self-assessment per week, while 52% reported choosing tests over social media when both options were available.
The poll, based on responses from >10,000 individuals aged 16 to 24, points to an emerging digital sensibility. Instead of rejecting screens outright, young users are reimagining their function, seeking meaning over noise, structure over frictionless novelty. Average session times on assessment platforms hover around 20 minutes, a striking contrast to the fragmented attention spans that dominate algorithmic video ecosystems.
The rejection of the scroll economy is not ideological; it’s experiential. Respondents cited fatigue with “mindless feeds,” frustration with constant self-performance, and a lack of emotional depth in social media interactions. Nearly 60% said they were tired of watching “dumb or repetitive videos” that left them feeling numb or disengaged. Others mentioned that endless content made it harder to focus, deepened a sense of personal inadequacy, or blurred the line between entertainment and emotional distraction.
What emerges in place of infinite content is something quieter: self-testing, introspection, and a digital space where the output is personal insight rather than performative metrics. While tests may seem like a niche behavior, they reflect a broader reorientation toward tools that offer clarity, privacy, and a sense of autonomy. Journaling apps, mindfulness platforms, and digital mental health trackers are increasingly part of the same landscape.
Far from a call for productivity, this turn reflects deeper motivations: a desire for emotional precision, language to understand oneself, and content that feels guided by choice rather than push. 58% of respondents said they use tests to explore personality patterns and emotional dynamics, while 49% turned to logic games and cognitive challenges to test or train their focus.
A complementary survey of 1,300 parents and mentors found that 76% observed greater emotional openness among those using such tools, and 38% noticed improved academic or personal follow-through. While not scientific measures, these perceptions suggest that self-assessment may be producing downstream behavioral effects, or at least changing the tenor of digital engagement.
Importantly, the shift is self-directed. The loudest narratives around youth and tech still hinge on regulation, addiction, or parental control. But MyIQ’s data suggests something subtler: a grassroots disengagement from digital excess. Not detox, not rejection, but redirection. Toward screens that reflect, rather than distort.
This transition is unlikely to trend or go viral, and that may be precisely why it matters. For a generation that has seen itself sold, sorted, and served back by algorithms, the most radical act may not be logging off, but logging in, with intent, curiosity, and no soundtrack.
About MyIQ:
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.