Karabük University study links social media scrolling to mental health decline

Researchers at Karabük University have conducted a study exploring the relationship between the “infinite scroll” habit on social media—often referred to as “brain rot”—and depression. The study, led by Psychology Professor Hasan Batmaz, Cemile Büşra Özsağır, and Halise Arslan Şekkeli, involved 439 young adults with an average age of 22.15.

Findings indicate that the constant consumption of short-form, low-quality digital content does not lead directly to depression. Instead, the process follows a progressive “loss spiral.” According to Cognitive Load Theory, the rapid switching between disparate topics (such as moving from comedy to tragic news in seconds) overwhelms the brain's limited working memory capacity. This prevents the brain from processing and transferring information to long-term memory.

The research identifies a multi-stage psychological decline: continuous scrolling first causes cognitive fatigue, which subsequently depletes emotional resilience and leads to burnout. This burnout then triggers increased levels of stress and anxiety, which ultimately serves as the pathway to depressive symptoms.