Designing Safer Social Media: Reducing Teen Addiction

New research reveals how social media platforms can be redesigned to be less addictive for teens. Explore ways companies can make changes to protect young users' mental health.
Recent court cases have affirmed what extensive research has long shown: the design of social media platforms is highly compelling and difficult for teens to resist. In response, there are growing calls for companies to rethink their approach and make meaningful changes to protect young users' mental health and well-being.
Addressing the Addictive Nature of Social Media
Social media platforms are engineered to be as engaging and habit-forming as possible, often at the expense of users' long-term interests. Features like infinite scrolling, push notifications, and algorithmically-curated content create a cycle of compulsive use that can be especially detrimental for impressionable teenagers.
Source: NPR


