Introduction 

We often think we are in control of how we use social media, but how much of that time actually goes unnoticed? This project explores that question through an interactive social media-style website that looks and feels like a normal Instagram feed. As users scroll, they encounter original poster designs until the experience reveals how much time has passed. By using the same format that often distracts users, the project creates an ironic moment of awareness and reflection.

Literature Review  

This project is influenced by artists who explore digital interaction, attention, and communication through visual design. Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya uses bold typography to communicate social issues, inspiring my use of clear messaging around attention and mindfulness. Yuri Vishnevsky’s interactive work Silk influenced the scrolling structure of my project, showing how simple user input can create engaging experiences. Together, these influences shaped both the visual style and concept of my project.

Research shows users often lose track of time due to infinite scrolling and habit-forming design. These platforms are built to keep users engaged through repeated interactions and quick rewards, making it difficult to stop. Studies also link increased social media use among students to higher stress and anxiety and reduced focus (McDonnell). These findings support the idea that social media use is often unintentional and informed my project’s focus on unnoticed time loss and the content of my posters.

Methods  

This project was developed through research and design. I reviewed sources on attention and social media behavior and observed common scrolling patterns among students. These insights informed both the website structure and poster content. The final product is an interactive website that mimics an Instagram feed using vertically stacked images and minimal navigation.

The posters were created using digital tools with a focus on clean layouts, readable typography, and short, impactful text. Each highlights ideas like time loss, decreased focus, and emotional effects through reflective prompts and facts. By embedding them into the scrolling feed, users encounter the content naturally within the same environment being critiqued. Color was used intentionally to convey meaning, with bright tones reflecting the stimulating nature of social media and darker tones representing stress, distraction, and mental fatigue, highlighting the contrast between its surface appeal and psychological effects.

Audience & Impact  

The primary audience for this project is anyone who regularly uses social media. The project is intended to help users recognize how easily time can be lost while scrolling and to understand the effects this can have on focus and well-being. By combining a realistic scrolling experience with intentional content, the project encourages users to think more critically about their habits and how they use their time. Creating this project helped me better understand how design can influence behavior and simply communicate complex ideas.  

Refernces  

McDonnell, Caraline. “A Tech-Based World: The Risks and Benefits of Social Media and Screentime.” Baker Center for Children and Families, 

2023, www.bakercenter.org/screentime-1 

Buzenski, Douglas T. “The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health in Students.” Capital University, www.capital.edu/admission-aid/college-

readiness-resource-hub/mental-health-hub/the-impact-of-social-media-on-mental-health-in-students/ 

Acknowledgements   

I would like to thank my instructors, classmates, and friends for their feedback and support throughout the development of this project.