Platitudes

Now, before you start, slow the f down or pop an Ozempic—your choice.

Social media poses a unique threat to minors and adolescents, primarily because it exploits their still-developing brains, hijacking their attention and decision-making abilities before they reach cognitive maturity. Unlike physical threats, which visibly incapacitate a child, these platforms operate more covertly—rewiring neural pathways, fostering addiction, and distorting reality. Many of us have engaged in these discussions at both micro and macro levels and share concerns about potential generational harm. In that spirit, I am comfortable suggesting a few example-driven ways to examine this issue, grounded in qualitative and thematic observations that do not require quantitative rigor.

The eradication of polio has been prioritized over other deadly diseases not only because we have spent tremendous resources on eliminating it over the last few decades but also because polio uniquely robs a child of their fundamental human right to mobility and physical autonomy. This is, unarguably, the most extreme form of unequal access to opportunity and health equity. Similarly, I believe social media infiltrates young minds before they fully develop, exposing them to altered and manufactured realities. In both cases, the damage occurs before the individual can protect themselves.

In previous posts, I've joked about the parallels between Instagram addiction and fentanyl addiction. While the two cannot be compared without seriously compromising this snippet's credibility, I believe we are better equipped to handle the latter. Fentanyl is widely recognized as a societal poison, with natural corrective forces such as stigma, law enforcement, and public health campaigns rallying against it. Instagram, however, operates without any such pushback. There are no natural deterrents, only an omnipresent, soon-to-be AI-driven agent designed to keep users hooked.

*This piece is not related to AI. I'm very bullish on AI.