Notes and sources · Scroll on Purpose
Research behind the book.
The works listed below were used as references during the development of this book. They are organized by chapter for easier consultation. Readers who would like to learn more about the subjects discussed are invited to consult them directly.
- Introduction and Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapters 4 to 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapters 11 to 14
- Chapters 15 to 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapters 19 and 20
- The 30-Day Attention Reset
Introduction and Chapter 1
- Wilmer, H. H., Sherman, L. E., and Chein, J. M. Smartphones and Cognition: A Review of Research Exploring the Links between Mobile Technology Habits and Cognitive Functioning. Frontiers in Psychology (2017). PMID 28487665
- Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., and Beyens, I. Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current Opinion in Psychology (2022). PMID 34563980
- Parry, D. A., et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of discrepancies between logged and self-reported digital media use. Nature Human Behaviour (2021). PMID 34002052
Chapter 2
- Metzler, H., et al. Social Drivers and Algorithmic Mechanisms on Digital Media. Perspectives on Psychological Science (2023). doi:10.1177/17456916231185057
- Bhargava, V. R., and Velasquez, M. Ethics of the Attention Economy: The Problem of Social Media Addiction. Business Ethics Quarterly (2021). doi:10.1017/beq.2020.32
Chapter 3
- Leroy, S. Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (2009). doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2009.04.002
- Altmann, E. M., Trafton, J. G., and Hambrick, D. Z. Momentary interruptions can derail the train of thought. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (2014). PMID 23294345
- Han, X., et al. Electronic Media Use and Sleep Quality: Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2024). PMID 38533835
Chapters 4 to 6
- Metzler, H., et al. Social Drivers and Algorithmic Mechanisms on Digital Media. Perspectives on Psychological Science (2023). doi:10.1177/17456916231185057
- Brand, M., Young, K. S., Laier, C., Wölfling, K., and Potenza, M. N. Integrating psychological and neurobiological considerations regarding the development and maintenance of specific Internet-use disorders: the I-PACE model. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2016). PMID 27590829
- Huang, C. A meta-analysis of the problematic social media use and mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry (2022). PMID 33295241
Chapter 7
- Wiradhany, W., and Nieuwenstein, M. R. Cognitive control in media multitaskers: Two replication studies and a meta-analysis. Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics (2017). PMID 28840547
- Santos, R. M. S., et al. The Association between Screen Time and Attention in Children: A Systematic Review. Developmental Neuropsychology (2022). PMID 35430923
- Wilmer, H. H., Sherman, L. E., and Chein, J. M. Smartphones and Cognition. Frontiers in Psychology (2017). PMID 28487665
Chapter 8
- Stothart, C., Mitchum, A., and Yehnert, C. The attentional cost of receiving a cell phone notification. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance (2015). PMID 26121498
- Altmann, E. M., Trafton, J. G., and Hambrick, D. Z. Momentary interruptions can derail the train of thought. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (2014). PMID 23294345
- Böttger, T., et al. Does the Brain Drain Effect Really Exist? A Meta-Analysis. Behavioral Sciences (2023). PMID 37754029
- Ohly, S., et al. Effects of task interruptions caused by notifications from communication applications on strain and performance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (2023). doi:10.1037/ocp0000351
Chapter 9
- Ahmed, O., et al. Social media use, mental health and sleep: A systematic review with meta-analyses. Journal of Affective Disorders (2024). PMID 39242043
- Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., and Beyens, I. Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current Opinion in Psychology (2022). PMID 34563980
- Huang, C. A meta-analysis of the problematic social media use and mental health. International Journal of Social Psychiatry (2022). PMID 33295241
- Akbari, M., et al. Fear of missing out and internet use: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions (2021). PMID 34935633
Chapter 10
Chapters 11 to 14
- Meier, A., and Johnson, B. K. Social comparison and envy on social media: A critical review. Current Opinion in Psychology (2022). PMID 35184028
- Verduyn, P., et al. Social comparison on social networking sites. Current Opinion in Psychology (2020). PMID 32387840
- Escobar-Viera, C. G., et al. Passive and Active Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms Among United States Adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2018). PMID 29995530
- Marciano, L., et al. Digital Media Use and Adolescents' Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Public Health (2022). PMID 35186872
Chapters 15 to 17
- Direct causal evidence about individual platforms and rapidly changing interface features remains limited. These chapters therefore use current platforms as examples of durable design categories such as short-video, autoplay, recommendation, and opinion feeds. The mechanism-level interpretation is stronger than any claim that one brand produces a universal psychological effect.
- Conte, G., et al. A systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2025). PMID 39412670
- Akbari, M., et al. Fear of missing out and internet use: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Behavioral Addictions (2021). PMID 34935633
- Metzler, H., et al. Social Drivers and Algorithmic Mechanisms on Digital Media. Perspectives on Psychological Science (2023). doi:10.1177/17456916231185057
Chapter 18
- Michie, S., van Stralen, M. M., and West, R. The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science (2011). PMID 21513547
- Ohly, S., et al. Effects of task interruptions caused by notifications from communication applications on strain and performance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (2023). doi:10.1037/ocp0000351
Chapters 19 and 20
- Plackett, R., et al. The Impact of Social Media Use Interventions on Mental Well-Being: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023). PMID 37565693
- Ramadhan, R. N., et al. Impacts of digital social media detox for mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Public Health (2024). PMID 39280291
- Lambert, J., et al. Taking a One-Week Break from Social Media Improves Well-Being, Depression, and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2022). PMID 35512731
- Brailovskaia, J., et al. Finding the sweet spot of smartphone use: Reduction or abstinence to increase well-being and healthy lifestyle? Experimental evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied (2023). PMID 35389685
The 30-Day Attention Reset
- Epton, T., et al. Unique effects of setting goals on behavior change: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2017). PMID 29189034
- Compernolle, S., et al. Effectiveness of interventions using self-monitoring to reduce sedentary behavior in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2019). PMID 31409357
- Fendel, J. C., et al. Mindfulness programs for problematic usage of the internet: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review (2024). PMID 38703362
- Gál, É., et al. The efficacy of mindfulness meditation apps in enhancing users' well-being and mental health related outcomes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Affective Disorders (2021). PMID 33049431
- Pieh, C., et al. Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Medicine (2025). PMID 39985031
- Castelo, N., et al. Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being. PNAS Nexus (2025). PMID 39967678