Most students do not open Instagram planning to waste time. It usually begins in the gaps during the day, while waiting for a class to start, standing in line, or taking what feels like a well-deserved break. The intention is always temporary. Yet the Instagram algorithm rarely respects that boundary. Five minutes stretch into twenty, and when we finally look up, time has passed without us noticing. What feels like a personal lapse is often the result of a platform designed to keep us from leaving.
Built for Reels, Not Rest
Instagram today is driven almost entirely by its algorithm, and that Instagram algorithm prioritises Reels. Short, fast, looping videos filled with trending audios, rapid cuts, and eye-catching captions are engineered for maximum retention. They demand attention without effort, rewarding the brain with constant novelty. In comparison, studying feels slow and unrewarding. Reading requires patience. Writing requires thought. The more time we spend on Reels, the harder it becomes to return to tasks that do not provide instant gratification.
When Scrolling Replaces Breaks
Instagram has quietly redefined what a “break” looks like. Scrolling is treated as rest, but it rarely provides the mental pause students actually need. Instead of allowing the mind to reset, the app floods it with stimulation—humour, outrage, relatability, and aspiration, all within seconds of each other. By the time we put the phone down, we feel more drained than before. Returning to academic work feels heavier, not lighter, and productivity begins to feel exhausting rather than achievable.
Productivity as Performance
The algorithm does more than entertain; it compares. Students are constantly shown content that frames productivity as a lifestyle; early mornings, colour-coded planners, aesthetic study desks, and perfectly edited “day in my life” videos. While these clips appear motivational, they quietly turn productivity into a performance. We stop focusing on learning and start focusing on how productive we appear. This constant exposure creates pressure, making us feel behind even when we are working hard.
Short Content, Shorter Attention
Reels may be brief, but their impact is lasting. Continuous exposure to short-form content trains the brain to expect stimulation every few seconds. Over time, attention spans shrink. Long lectures feel unbearable. Assignments feel overwhelming before they even begin. We reach for our phones instinctively, not out of boredom, but out of habit. What we often label as procrastination is actually a brain struggling to adjust to silence and focus.
The Algorithm Knows You
Perhaps the most unsettling part of Instagram’s design is how personal it feels. The algorithm tracks what we pause on, replay, or linger over, and refines content accordingly. It learns our insecurities, interests, and stress points, then feeds them back to us. This makes distraction feel like a personal failure rather than a structural one. Students blame themselves for lacking discipline, unaware that they are interacting with a system designed to hold their attention for as long as possible.
Reclaiming Focus on Campus
This is not an argument for abandoning Instagram entirely. Social media still holds value as a space for creativity, connection, and expression. However, productivity on campus requires intentional use. It requires recognising that scrolling is not rest, and that constant stimulation comes at a cost. Real productivity is not aesthetic or performative—it is slow, often invisible, and deeply human.
Choosing Focus in a Scrolling World
In a campus culture where distraction is normalised, attention has become rare. Choosing to focus; without checking notifications, without opening Reels, without comparing progress, has become an act of resistance. Instagram’s algorithm may shape what we see, but it does not have to shape how we work, think, or learn. Reclaiming our time and attention may be the most productive choice students can make.
