Is the endless scrolling feature nearing completion?

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital technology, two influential countries, France and the United States, are considering the potential addictive nature of infinite scrolling. This concept, first introduced by American engineer Aza Raskin in 2006, replaced the traditional web pages with a continuous feed, becoming a central element of code for many everyday applications.

Infinite scrolling, likened to a glass that fills itself infinitely, has been a key factor in prolonging users' consumption of content on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. The mechanism, part of a panel of techniques designed to keep users on a site or application for as long as possible, has raised serious health and social questions.

Europe, in particular, has mentioned mental health issues related to applications that use infinite scroll. The European Parliament has expressed a willingness to fight against application addiction, and European institutions aim to modernize legislation on digital matters and prevent online platforms from exploiting individuals' vulnerabilities.

The attention economy, a theory established by Herbert Simon in 1971, defines the attention of consumers as a rare economic resource in the face of the abundance of information, particularly in the digital era. In this context, the State's recommendations for a more ethical digital world include creating the "right to not be disturbed," implementing a chronological feed, and disabling notifications by default.

In the US, 41 states have sued Meta for its toxic and addictive practices, targeting techniques used to increase user engagement. The investigation in the US also targets, among other things, the techniques used by Meta to increase the frequency and duration of young users' engagement.

Meanwhile, in France, the mission proposes to build an "attention regulation," banning practices such as automatic video playback and infinite scrolling. The design of websites, including the use of bright colors, permanent notifications, infinite scrolling, and automatic video playback, is singled out in France.

Aza Raskin, the inventor of infinite scroll, has expressed a desire to end its use due to concerns about screen addiction. The State of California Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Meta over harms to youth mental health, further emphasizing the growing concern about the impact of infinite scrolling.

As both France and the US take steps to address the issue, it remains to be seen how these changes will shape the digital world and the way we consume content in the future.