Wellness, part 5: Lost in the scroll

Heavy tech use can take a meaningful toll on physical and mental well-being, amplifying loneliness and “technostress.”

Headshot of Lynelle Huskey

Lynelle Huskey

Headshot of Vanessa Cook

Vanessa Cook

June 2026

Key takeaways

  • Heavy tech use can negatively impact the body, contributing to issues such as musculoskeletal strain, eye problems, hearing damage and disrupted sleep. Prolonged screen time also promotes sedentary behavior, increasing risks of obesity and related health conditions.
  • Loneliness affects about 16% of people globally and is increasingly viewed as a major public health issue. At the same time, constant connectivity is driving "technostress," with frequent device use and notifications contributing to burnout and prompting policy responses like the right to disconnect.
  • In the final installment of our Wellness series, we talk about consumers getting "lost in the scroll" – highlighting links between social media use, mental health risks, content overload and the growing challenge of misinformation.

Read our full analysis for a more in-depth look at these trends.