Studies and experts, including the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, highlight how excessive online exposure harms teens, fostering fear of the outside world—which is safer in comparison.

With an average of nearly five hours spent on social media daily, this addiction correlates with the increasing unhappiness among young people in countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The widespread issue of "doomscrolling" and exposure to harmful content, including cyberbullying and misinformation, underscores the inability of even adults to manage these platforms' impacts efficiently. Murthy criticizes the lack of governmental action to regulate social media, likening unchecked child usage to unsafe medication.

The call for stringent social media regulation stems from concerns over young people's happiness and their skewed perception of reality, further aggravated by the pandemic.

The political consequences are significant, with social media influencing cultural norms and political engagement, underscoring the urgent need for engaging cultural experiences for youth in the real world to maintain democratic values.