Mobile Phone Use Extends Mental Fatigue, Study Finds

Consulting videos and social‑media feeds on a mobile phone after a demanding day provides immediate relief, but forces the brain to keep processing stimuli, making countless tiny decisions and constantly shifting focus. Psychiatrist Kazuhiro Tajima warns that this creates a difference between feeling momentarily better and actually resting, noting that “the mobile can relieve boredom, tension or discomfort, but it keeps the mental load elevated.”

The endless scroll prevents the low‑activity state needed for recovery, and emotional content – negative news, polarized debates, or social comparison – adds further stress. As a result, many people remain tense, saturated or even more exhausted after a prolonged screen session, despite being physically still.