social media harm

US Wellbeing Declines Under Trump Presidency

Recent surveys indicate a significant decline in American wellbeing, with consumer sentiment reaching an all-time low attributed by many to the Iran conflict and its economic repercussions, such as rising gas prices. Concurrently, the US has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries, with the decline in happiness largely impacting young adults, a factor linked to extensive social media use and its associated harms. These findings, coupled with legal actions against social media companies for harming minors, suggest a nationwide mental health crisis.

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EU Cites Addictive Design as Harmful to Children and Adults

Preliminary findings by the European Commission suggest TikTok’s design, featuring elements like infinite scroll and personalized recommendations, may place users’ brains into “autopilot mode,” potentially leading to compulsive behavior. The commission alleges these “addictive features” violate EU law by failing to adequately assess harm to users, including minors. TikTok has strongly denied these accusations, calling them “categorically false” and vowing to challenge the findings, which could result in significant fines if confirmed under the Digital Services Act.

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