TikTok, Snap, Meta, and other social media app producers have been placing profits over the well-being and safety of the vulnerable users of their products—products that have led to both physical and mental harm.
These social media apps are literally designed to enhance and increase use, as well as addictiveness. For example, these apps have features specifically created to increase user engagement—likes, Snapstreaks, photo and video editing—all of these features are enhanced to create a dopamine receptor response, triggering a euphoric-like feeling, which in turn increases use.
They also utilize algorithms and artificial intelligence to provide specific content and advertising to users by analyzing data collected during app usage. They track your navigational paths, what content you’re viewing, how much time you spend on specific content, as well as your hover time. They then use this data in conjunction with principles of human psychology to increase and maximize screen time.
The more screen time they are able to generate, the more revenue they make. They then utilize this data to target vulnerable populations. Teens, for example, are one of the most vulnerable groups—particularly because they are at a stage in life where their brains are still developing. This means they don’t yet have the full ability to self-regulate. It also means they are more susceptible to certain types of behavior that they don’t readily identify, such as difficulty with risk evaluation, emotional regulation, and impulse control.
These vulnerabilities in the teen population are further exploited. Teens are targeted with specific content and are manipulated to increase and maximize their screen time. The features and algorithms that are designed to induce excessive social media use directly contribute to both physical and mental harm. This includes increased depression, anxiety, self-harm, and in some cases, even suicide.
