Restoring agency through friction or digital curation

Adding physical friction. Behavior Shift suggests that users should move social media apps off home screens, log out after each use, or keep phones in separate rooms to force deliberation before consumption (Behavior Shift). Reclaim Your Energy supports this by instructing users to delete scrolling apps or keep devices in bags during 48-hour periods to reduce mindless stimulation (Reclaim Your Energy, Reclaim Your Energy). These structural obstacles force users to choose between a specific, intentional action and the ease of an automatic habit (Behavior Shift).

Curating digital inputs. Mapu argues that users can instead train algorithms to serve as tools for awe and connection by swiping away negative content and engaging only with inspiring material (Instead of Doomscrolling, Instead of Doomscrolling). This approach views digital platforms as environments that can be re-enchanted through selective feedback, allowing users to find community and poetry online while maintaining their mental wellbeing.

The core tension. These positions diverge on whether the digital environment is inherently a trap that must be avoided or a tool that can be redeemed through active management. While one side prioritizes physical separation to protect the nervous system, the other seeks to transform the feed into a source of support, acknowledging that total disconnection is often impractical in modern life.