I was recently out for breakfast with friends, enjoying a much needed break from the home and workspace I spend most of my time in, looking through the menu for my favourite things, which, as with many places in this digital age, was available on my phone via a QR code.
Despite the many negative things that can be said about our worldwide experiences of COVID19, it did spur on certain advancements in the way we are able to use technology.
Within a few second of scrolling the menu, probably searching for hash browns, I realised I was feeling nauseous. I put my phone down on the table for a second a took an extended blink to give my eyes a moment and a deep breath to settle my stomach. After others had ordered, I returned to my screen to continue and found I was quickly feeling it again. Something resembling motion sickness, which I struggled with more in my younger years, less so in recent years, since I've found ways to settle it.
It wasn't until about a month later that I made the connection, it was often happening when I look at my phone screen.
And so here we are, with another weekly blog about something I've been researching for my own selfish interest, and I just sometimes think - 'Maybe someone else wants to know what I found' *shrugs*.
Cybersickness, sometimes referred to as virtual reality sickness, is a condition characterised by symptoms that resemble motion sickness (fits the bill so far). It occurs when there’s a disconnect between what the eyes see and what the body feels, a phenomenon initially recognised as being triggered by prolonged exposure to virtual or augmented environments. This can happen when engaging with VR headsets, playing video games, or using other immersive digital platforms.
But cybersickness isn't limited to immersive technologies. Extended use of smartphones and computers can also induce similar symptoms. Activities such as scrolling through social media feeds, using multiple screens, or attending virtual meetings can lead to sensory conflicts, resulting in cybersickness (Healthline, 2021). Since so much of my day is filled with virtual meetings, working across two screens and the 'breaks' I choose to take from that often involve a mindless scroll through irrelevant sponsored ads on social media, I'm doing quite well so far with a self-diagnosis... How about you?
How Do People Develop Cybersickness?
Cybersickness arises from sensory conflict, primarily between visual inputs and the body’s vestibular system, which controls balance and spatial orientation. When a person moves their head or body while interacting with a virtual environment that doesn’t correlate with their actual movement (such as moving in a game without corresponding physical motion), the brain becomes confused. This mismatch between what the eyes see and what the body feels can lead to symptoms of cybersickness.
Similarly, during smartphone use, rapid scrolling or viewing dynamic content can create a visual experience that doesn't align with the body's physical state, leading to sensory discrepancies. This phenomenon, known as visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), is a common cause of cybersickness in regular screen use (Wikipedia, 2025).
How to Tell if You're Suffering from Cybersickness
Symptoms of cybersickness are similar to those of traditional motion sickness and can vary in intensity. The most common symptoms include:
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Dizziness or lightheadedness
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Nausea or an upset stomach
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Sweating
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Fatigue
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Headache
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Difficulty focusing or blurry vision
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General discomfort or unease
These symptoms typically appear immediately after prolonged use of virtual environments or digital devices, but they can sometimes persist for hours or even longer, depending on the severity of the exposure. If you experience these symptoms during or after engaging with immersive technologies or extended smartphone use, it’s quite likely you are suffering from cybersickness (VIVO Clinic, 2023).
The Impact of Cybersickness on Wellbeing
The first thing to say on this subject is that it usually isn't too big of an issue. While it might cause some discomfort, much like traditional motion sickness it should go away soon after you've stopped interacting with the thing causing the problem.
However, could physical discomfort caused by cybersickness have a broader impact? I would speculate (and I should be clear, I've found no research which confirms or denies this) that persistent symptoms could lead to increased stress and anxiety, as individuals may begin to associate technology use with discomfort or health issues. It could also, in turn, reduce productivity, especially in work environments requiring extended use of digital tools.
Over time, will we see chronic exposure to cybersickness leading to avoidance behaviours, where individuals limit their use of technology to prevent unpleasant symptoms? If this happens, could it also result in social isolation and a decreased ability to fully engage with digital advancements, potentially affecting personal growth and professional development?
Maybe I'm catastrophising, but I'd just like to plant this seed as food for thought, even if just for myself, that maybe catching this issue before it spirals to this degree would help me. Maybe it could help you too?
How to Avoid Cybersickness
The good news (I'm not here to bring just doom and gloom) is that there are several ways to reduce or prevent cybersickness:
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Take Frequent Breaks: Regularly resting your eyes and body can help reset the sensory system, preventing fatigue and minimising the risk of cybersickness.
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Adjust Your Environment: If you're using virtual reality, try adjusting the settings to reduce the intensity of the experience. For smartphone use, reduce screen brightness and avoid using devices in poorly lit environments to minimise eye strain.
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Use Motion Sickness Remedies: Over-the-counter medications for motion sickness, such as dimenhydrinate, can help alleviate symptoms. However, always consult a healthcare provider before using any medication.
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Gradual Exposure: Start with shorter sessions in virtual environments or limit smartphone use and gradually increase the duration as your body adjusts to the digital landscape.
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Maintain Proper Posture: Ensuring proper neck and back posture while using virtual or augmented reality can help minimise the chances of developing cybersickness.
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Enable Motion Reduction Features: Some smartphones offer features to reduce motion effects. For instance, Apple's iOS 18 introduced 'Vehicle Motion Cues' to help mitigate motion sickness during device use in moving vehicles (Verywell Health, 2024).
- Minimise Exposure: We could consider removing some of the most frequently visited apps from our smartphones, or 'logging out' of them outside of certain (self-specified) hours, giving ourselves an extra step to use them, reminding us that we're trying to cut down.
Conclusion
Although direct statistics on cybersickness prevalence are scarce, there are indirect indicators suggesting a potential increase:
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Increased Screen Time: The pandemic resulted in a substantial rise in screen time across various demographics, which could correlate with a higher incidence of cybersickness symptoms.
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Anecdotal Reports: Healthcare providers have reported more cases of patients experiencing symptoms consistent with cybersickness, such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea, following prolonged device use.
While it is plausible that cybersickness cases have risen since the 2020 pandemic due to increased digital device usage, concrete statistical data confirming this trend is currently lacking.
Still, whether you’re an avid gamer or someone using smartphones for work or leisure, taking proactive steps to manage the potential of cybersickness can help you fully enjoy the benefits of the digital world without compromising your health. I think it's safe to say I've allowed my personal screentime to spiral out of control, so frequent breaks, adjusting screen brightness, improved posture and minimised exposure are the points above I'm going to introduce to my own life, to try nip it in the bud.
Do you think you've experienced cybersickness? Will you find value in any of the above remedies, or do you think there are other ways to help reduce the discomfort, or potential of ongoing issues? Comment below and let me know!
References
Healthline. (2021). Cybersickness: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/cybersickness
Wikipedia. (2025). Motion sickness. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_sickness
VIVO Clinic. (2023). Managing cybersickness: Symptoms and remedies. Retrieved from https://vivoclinic.com/managing-cybersickness-symptoms-and-remedies/
Verywell Health. (2024). Apple's New iOS 18 Feature May Help Reduce Motion Sickness. Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/apple-ios18-motion-sickness-8726144
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