Abstract

The contemporary digital landscape is characterized by the omnipresence of algorithmic curation, a technological paradigm that actively shapes user behavior through variable reinforcement schedules and personalized content delivery. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) investigates "Algorithmic Exhaustion," a state of cognitive and emotional depletion resulting from prolonged interaction with infinite-scroll architectures. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we synthesized data from 40 open-access studies, including large-scale meta-analyses (N=2,123,762) and experimental physiological trials. The quality of included studies was appraised using JADAD, CASP, and AXIS tools. Results indicate that global digital addiction prevalence is approximately 17.42% for social media specifically. Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) confirms that information overload and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) are primary antecedents of fatigue (p < 0.001), which mediates the pathway to compulsive use. Furthermore, eye-tracking evidence reveals that "infinite scroll" mechanics induce specific gaze patterns that override natural stopping cues. This report concludes with evidence-based recommendations for platform architecture reform, moving beyond abstinence models to "agency-restoration" frameworks.