Is Social Media Addictive By Design?

Recent research demonstrates the devastating mental health effects caused by social media use, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and self-harm. Adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face twice the risk of poor mental health outcomes. Addictive feeds - designed to harness personal data to curate users' content that will keep them on the platform for as long as possible - have dramatically heightened the risk to young users' well-being and made our children addicted to these social media outlets.

In a powerful call to action, state attorneys general are uniting to confront the escalating mental health crisis among youth, exacerbated by social media platforms. These platforms, designed to captivate and monetize children’s attention, have been linked to alarming increases in depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior. The officials are leveraging litigation and legislation to combat the predatory practices of social media giants like Meta, TikTok, and others, who engineer their platforms to foster addiction and exploit personal data for profit.

The attorneys general are advocating for laws that prioritize chronological feeds, empower parents to manage their children’s social media usage, and protect minors from data exploitation. These proposed measures aim to curb the detrimental impact of social media on young minds, ensuring a safer online environment without infringing on free speech or access to content.

As guardians of public interest, the attorneys general are committed to safeguarding the well-being of the next generation against the insidious harms of social media addiction. Their collective efforts reflect a steadfast resolve to uphold the health and safety of our children in the digital age. To get more details about the bills being introduced across the country, read the original article on USA Today.

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