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A stopping cue is a natural signal that tells someone an activity has reached a point where it's reasonable to pause, like the end of a TV episode, the bottom of a webpage, or the last page of a book chapter.
Infinite scroll removes that moment entirely, replacing a defined endpoint with a feed that never runs out. That absence of an endpoint is central to a growing body of research, and to the current social media litigation, examining how interface design itself may shape compulsive use in young people.
With traditional content, reaching an endpoint naturally raises the question of whether to keep going. With an endless feed, that moment rarely comes up on its own, since the next piece of content is already there. A 2024 study in the International Journal of Communication calls this 'frictionless' design - the platform requires no extra effort or choice to continue.
That shift changes what the user is actually deciding. Instead of weighing whether to keep using the platform, the decision becomes whether to look at one more post, which feels much smaller, even though it repeats indefinitely.
A 2024 study interviewed 20 teenagers ages 13 to 16 in the United States and Canada about how they actually stop using infinite-scroll platforms. Rather than measuring screen time, the research focused on the deliberate interruptions some teens introduce for themselves to break out of an otherwise frictionless experience, such as:
The study found that some teenagers only stopped once they noticed a problem developing, suggesting the interface itself doesn't naturally prompt that reflection.
Infinite scroll rarely operates alone. A 2026 systematic review in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry identifies infinite scroll, personalized algorithmic curation, and rapid content delivery as separate but interacting mechanisms working together on short-form video platforms, including:
The same review connects infinite scroll to time distortion, meaning the absence of a natural endpoint can leave a user with less sense of how long they've actually been on a platform. That's one of several mechanisms researchers are examining in relation to problematic digital media habits, rather than proof that any single session amounts to compulsive use.
Infinite scroll is one of the product features named in MDL 3047, the litigation consolidating claims against major social media companies over allegations that platforms were designed to foster compulsive use among minors. The stopping-cue concept gives plaintiffs a specific way to frame the alleged defect, arguing that removing a natural endpoint reduces the number of moments a young user has to consciously decide whether to keep going.
That theory becomes stronger when infinite scroll is combined with other features already at issue in the litigation, including autoplay, personalized recommendations, and notifications. None of this means a court has determined that infinite scroll is inherently defective, since the outcome for any individual case depends on its specific facts.
A feed that never gives your child a natural place to stop isn't an accident of design, it's the product working as intended. If that kind of endless engagement contributed to a diagnosed mental health condition, Atraxia Law can look into whether the circumstances fit the ongoing litigation. We evaluate the platforms and diagnosis involved in your child's case and, where it qualifies, connect you with an attorney handling claims in MDL 3047. Reach out today to have your case reviewed at no cost.