Associated Press: Jurors wade through daunting evidence in high-stakes Meta trial about social media risks to children. “A daunting stream of testimony and evidence has been presented in a New Mexico case that explores what the social media conglomerate Meta knew about the effects of its platforms on children.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/21/associated-press-jurors-wade-through-daunting-evidence-in-high-stakes-meta-trial-about-social-media-risks-to-children/

PsyPost: Narcissistic traits and celebrity worship are linked to excessive Instagram scrolling via emotional struggles and fear of missing out. “The researchers found a positive link between narcissistic traits, celebrity worship, and problematic Instagram use. In other words, individuals who scored higher in narcissism or celebrity obsession also reported unhealthier relationships with the […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/19/psypost-narcissistic-traits-and-celebrity-worship-are-linked-to-excessive-instagram-scrolling-via-emotional-struggles-and-fear-of-missing-out/

PsyPost: Excessive TikTok use is linked to social anxiety and daily cognitive errors. “The researchers found that excessive use of the popular short video app acts as a bridge between underlying social anxieties and a person’s tendency to forget appointments or lose focus during daily tasks. These results shed light on how the specific design of modern social media platforms might influence […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/18/psypost-excessive-tiktok-use-is-linked-to-social-anxiety-and-daily-cognitive-errors/

Goodbye, Google Chrome: Replacing My Mobile Browser for 30 Days with GenAI

Just over a month ago, for reasons I can't quite remember, I decided to try out a little experiment. I know it stemmed from that vague sense of frustration that Cal Newport claims most (tech) writers suffer at some point: the feeling of being thoroughly, pointlessly addicted to technology. Like pretty much everyone I know, I spend way too much time using my phone. Between attention-seeking social media notifications, emails, and the near-constant urge to Google totally useless information, […]

https://leonfurze.com/2024/03/19/goodbye-google-chrome-replacing-my-mobile-browser-for-30-days-with-genai/

Network Effects: Social Media and the Past, Present, and Future of Addictive AI

The rise of AI is intertwined with social media's massive data collection, addictive algorithms, and Silicon Valley's influence. With big tech companies dominating AI development, the potential for addictive AI systems and the spread of AI-generated misinformation on social media poses ethical and societal challenges. Collaboration between stakeholders is vital to ensure responsible AI deployment.

https://leonfurze.com/2024/08/27/network-effects-social-media-and-the-past-present-and-future-of-addictive-ai/

Associated Press: Lawyers in landmark social media addiction trial make final appeals to the jury. “After about a month of hearing from addiction experts, therapists, platform engineers and executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, 12 jurors heard closing arguments before deciding whether social media companies should be liable for harms caused to children using their platforms.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/13/associated-press-lawyers-in-landmark-social-media-addiction-trial-make-final-appeals-to-the-jury/

The Guardian: AI chatbots point vulnerable social media users to illegal online casinos, analysis shows. “AI chatbots are recommending illegal online casinos to vulnerable social media users, putting them at increased risk of fraud, addiction and even suicide.”

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/09/the-guardian-ai-chatbots-point-vulnerable-social-media-users-to-illegal-online-casinos-analysis-shows/

Have we traded freedom for convenience, surrendering control to invisible algorithms? #FreedomTradeoff #DigitalAddiction

Associated Press: Young woman says she was on social media ‘all day long’ as a child in landmark addiction trial. “The now 20-year-old, who has been identified in court documents as KGM, says her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which TikTok and Snap have […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/27/associated-press-young-woman-says-she-was-on-social-media-all-day-long-as-a-child-in-landmark-addiction-trial/

Associated Press: Social media can be addictive even for adults, but there are ways to cut back. “The companies that designed your favorite apps have an incentive to keep you glued to them so they can serve up ads that make them billions of dollars in revenue. Resisting the pull of the endless scroll, the dopamine hits from short-form videos and the ego boost and validation that come from likes […]

https://rbfirehose.com/2026/02/22/associated-press-social-media-can-be-addictive-even-for-adults-but-there-are-ways-to-cut-back/