Infinite scroll was popularized by social media platforms optimized for engagement — specifically, for keeping users scrolling as long as possible. It is effective at that goal. It is not effective at most other goals, and it creates usability and accessibility problems that pagination does not.
The navigation problem
Infinite scroll makes it impossible to return to a specific position in a list. If a user scrolls through forty items, clicks on one, and navigates back, they return to the top. This is a significant usability problem for any content users want to browse and return to.
The accessibility problem
Infinite scroll is difficult to navigate with a keyboard. Screen reader users and keyboard users rely on predictable content movement. An infinitely loading list is unpredictable and disorienting. Pagination is straightforward to navigate with a keyboard.
When infinite scroll is appropriate
Infinite scroll is appropriate when content is consumed linearly and not returned to, and the primary goal is engagement rather than task completion. For most professional and editorial sites, pagination is the better choice.