New survey data points to a widespread pattern of automatic scrolling that users describe as difficult to control, with reported effects on attention and emotional regulation.
A growing share of people say they scroll through digital feeds even when they would rather stop. According to a recent MyIQ survey of 2,437 respondents, 84% reported that they continue scrolling despite an explicit intention to disengage, describing the behaviour as reflexive rather than deliberate. The finding adds quantitative weight to a familiar experience of digital fatigue and suggests that automatic engagement is becoming a default mode of interaction rather than a conscious choice.
MyIQ characterises this pattern as “brain scrolling”: a sequence of rapid, low-effort interactions driven by endless feeds and algorithmically timed prompts. Unlike intentional browsing, respondents described the behaviour as difficult to interrupt once initiated. The company frames this as a cognitive strain rather than a question of willpower, arguing that repeated exposure to short, unpredictable stimuli alters how attention is allocated over time.
The survey links frequent scrolling to changes in emotional response and concentration. Among respondents who identified as heavy scrollers, 62% reported feeling more irritable immediately after extended scrolling sessions, while 59% said they struggled to focus on a single task for longer than 20 minutes. These figures suggest that the impact of scrolling extends beyond time spent on devices, shaping mood and attentional stamina after disengagement.
Participants also reported difficulty moderating the behaviour. 73% said they had attempted to reduce their scrolling time and failed, and 48% said automatic scrolling interfered with work or learning activities. Rather than framing these outcomes as personal shortcomings, MyIQ interprets them as the result of reinforced behavioural loops, in which novelty cues and intermittent social feedback encourage continued engagement with minimal cognitive effort.
In accompanying briefing materials, MyIQ outlines two mechanisms it believes help explain the pattern. First, frequent micro-stimuli are thought to trigger rapid dopamine responses that prioritise short-term novelty over sustained, effortful tasks. Second, repeated interruptions fragment attention, increasing the mental effort required to re-enter a focused state. Over time, this dynamic may make deliberate, goal-directed behaviour feel disproportionately demanding.
The findings arrive amid broader concern about how digital design influences cognition and emotional health. While the MyIQ survey does not claim clinical diagnosis, it positions reflexive scrolling as a population-level behavioural shift that can be measured through self-report at scale. By linking subjective experience to consistent survey metrics, the data contribute to an expanding body of evidence that everyday interface patterns can have cumulative cognitive effects.
The implications extend beyond individual habits. If most users experience scrolling as reflexive, small changes in interface design, such as reducing micro-interruptions or altering feedback timing, could plausibly influence behaviour across large populations. MyIQ presents its findings as a prompt for further scrutiny by editors, product designers, and policymakers examining how ubiquitous digital environments shape attention and emotional regulation.
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.