Look up “Skinner box.”

Social Media uses sophisticated psychology to addict people.

Those likes and shares are a randomized reward schedule, just like the lever that sometimes produced food pellets in the experiment.

They need you on their platform as much as possible so that you see more advertising.

This shit should have been regulated long ago. At the very minimum, there should have been a warning to parents.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/25/meta-youtube-found-liable-for-social-media-addiction-in-landmark-trial-00844625

Meta, YouTube found liable for social media addiction in landmark trial

The verdict is a breakthrough for kids’ online safety advocates after years of fighting tech.

Politico