Late-2017 studies revealed unsettling correlations between heavy social-media use and spikes in anxiety, sleep disruption, and body-image concerns—especially among teens. By January 2018, policymakers and psychologists were sounding cautious alarms.

The issue isn’t screens per se; it is the architecture of digital platforms. Infinite scroll, intermittent rewards, algorithmic outrage—these design features shift behaviour, amplify comparison, and fragment attention. Yet social media also nurtures belonging and self-expression; the challenge is separating connection from compulsion.

Emerging reforms include time-use nudges, “take a break” prompts, calmer algorithmic defaults, and tools for digital self-regulation. The task ahead is ensuring platforms prioritise human psychological safety with the same seriousness they apply to engagement metrics. The digital world shapes minds—and now we must shape it back.