@eniko except that social media really IS designed by researchers to be maximally addictive, so I'm not sure that compares fully.
Of course, that part should be banned for everyone.
Satanic Panic doesn't have a list of victims, but I got this in 2 seconds of searching.
Teens Whose Deaths Were Linked to Social Media:
Molly Russell (14): A British teen whose 2017 death was linked to social media, prompting inquests into Instagram and Pinterest content.
Jordan DeMay (17): Died by suicide in 2026 after a "financial sextortion" scam involving a fake Instagram account, leading to a lawsuit against Meta.
Coco Arnold (17): Died in 2022 from fentanyl-laced pills allegedly sold by an older man contacted through Instagram.
Bradyn Bohn (17): Died by suicide following a financial sextortion scheme, leading to a lawsuit against Meta.
Cameron Murphy (15): Died by suicide; his mother cited his addiction to Instagram and TikTok.
Jools Roome (14): Died in 2025 after a suspected TikTok challenge.
JackLynn Blackwell (9): Died in 2026 attempting a viral social media dare.
Renna O'Rourke: Died attempting a "dusting" challenge in 2025.
Ciara Pugsley: Committed suicide after being bullied on Ask.fm.
Jessica Laney: Hanged herself after being bullied on Ask.fm.
Daniel Perry: Jumped to his death after being blackmailed on Skype.
Audrey Sites: Died from suicide following targeting on Roblox.
@JoeHenzi @larsmb @eniko Dungeons and Dragons was linked to a bunch of deaths in the 80s. It was all bullshit of course, but there is always something we have to blame for 'the state of the kids'
Social media
Video games
Dungeons and Dragons
Rock and Roll
Books
It's always the same thing, just the focus of the panic changes.
But those stories weren't real, D&D didn't put out a product designed to exploit your deepest desires, wants, needs. You really need to understand what's happening with social media and your brain.
You also need to understand what evidence is, sorry. There are lists of dead kids, even Facebook has evidence of their product bringing harm to people - but yes, we should defend them....
EDIT: Christ, just SEARCH the topic - there was ONE case they lost. Facebook didn't prevail, there is evidence, there ARE dead kids, think again which side you're choosing here.
"what if" -- they have evidence themselves that they set out to create - and did create - a harmful and addictive product
society failing is more likely caused by it (Cambridge Analytica) than social media being a symptom
it causes addiction, we're negotiating a way to stay addicted right now...
EDIT: I don't disagree society is utterly failing, but I don't blame FB for it nor think we are escaping to FB. It's all the same problem.
@JoeHenzi @larsmb @eniko I'm not on the side of Facebook (and other social media) - it needs to be regulated harshly. But I am against banning stuff. Banning stuff just leads to people getting access through deceitful means anyway.
The same arguments about addiction were made about video games, Dungeons and Dragons and books. Video games and Dungeons and Dragons had hundreds of studies that 'proved' how they addicted kids and turned them to evil.
If anything, books are the addiction that made the biggest societal change, completely changing the mindset of those who read and leading us to the democracies we have today. Older society was in an outrage about how addictive books were for the youth.
Let's just say I'm skeptical about studies that say that things that kids find enjoyable and new are addictive and evil.
I say this as a parent of three kids on social media - all of who use them extensively as communication tools and none of who are addicted. For our family the benefits way outweigh the drawbacks.
> Let's just say I'm skeptical about studies that say that things that kids find enjoyable and new are addictive and evil.
You are out right lying to yourself. It's not what people find enjoyable that they feed us and addicts us - it's rage, racism, hate. That's what hooks you, anger. That's why ragebait is the word of the year!
You're acting like someone is about taking something fun from kids.
D&D - there was studies, suicides didn't go up. People are writing about Instagram/Facebook in their suicide notes! You're literally ignoring what's really going on and pretending social media is some great thing when it's given us Trump and the rest.
It's an advertising platform - not a game, not musical expression. It's a company selling you illicit drugs and scam ads.
Eniko Fox
Lars Marowsky-Brée 😷
JoeHenzi
Draft Excluder