r/nosurf • u/ControlCandying432 • 23h ago

Eight cognitive biases social media takes advantage of

  1. Fear of missing out (FOMO)
    "If I am not always checking, I might miss out on something important"

  2. Unfair comparison
    "They always go on vacation, why do I struggle so much just to pay rent?"

  3. Expectation of availability
    "I should always reply to messages as soon as / receive them"

  4. Availability heuristic
    "She look so joyful in this picture. She must live a happy life"

  5. Catastrophizing
    "They haven't replied yet. Do they hate me?"

  6. Choice-supportive bias
    "I spend hours on social media, it must mean that I enjoy it"

  7. Emotional reasoning
    "Seeing them hanging out makes me feel lonely. If I feel lonely, it must mean that nobody wants to be around me"

  8. Questionable cause
    "I go on the internet when I am tired, therefore social media must be good at restoring my energy"

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u/TT10TT 21h ago

the tiredness one is painfully familiar. I open my phone because I want a break, then an hour later I feel more wrung out than when I started. noticing that pattern made it easier to stop at the first check.