As humans, it’s simply not in our nature to log off, even when staying on hurts.
“For some kid scrolling alone in the dark, [apps] can be a black hole.”
That dark reality and its bright revenue upside isn’t lost on app creators.
Illustrated by Niege Borges
In another, 17 percent of teen girls said theireating disordersworsened with use of the app.
In a recent study,TikTokand Snapchat use was associated with depressive symptoms among those 35 years or older.
We might get savvier and more intelligent, but so does the technology that distorts our perceptions.
The subtler filters are more insidious, though.
You’re “you,” altered to an unachievable degree.
But that doesn’t stop us from chasing thatdistorted image IRL.
“Filters take the human aspect out of the images people are seeing,” explains Dr. Wechsler.
“I have to educate them on why we can’t enhance certain things.
Board-certified dermatologist and psychiatristEvan Rieder, M.D., cites Instagram as a prime source of filter-born distortion.
We might get savvier and more intelligent, but so does the technology that distorts our perceptions.
For some users, normalization keeps them grounded.
They feel like they have acommunity.”
Which Platform Has the Biggest Potential for Negative Effects?
Numerical ratings go from one (benign) to five (severe).
Long-form videos are also inherently less addictive than the rapid-fire viewing of other social media apps."
