Research
Major study argues we need immediate rules to protect young people from the harms of digital media
Earth.com · By Eric Ralls ·
The Brief
- A group of public health experts argues that young people need immediate rules to protect them from the harms of digital media.
- The authors reject the view that teens' endless scrolling simply reflects weak self-control.
- They argue that feeds are designed to keep users scrolling.
Why it matters
The study frames compulsive phone use as a product-design and public-health issue rather than a personal failing, which could shape how rules for youth digital media are debated.
Who’s affected
- Young people who use mobile social media feeds
- #digital-media
- #youth
- #public-health
- #social-media
- #policy
When teenagers can’t stop scrolling on their mobile devices, the easiest explanation is to label them as having weak self-control. A group of public health experts has a different answer. The feed was built to keep that thumb moving, and the responsibility belongs to the…