What exactly is it about social media that fuels rising anxiety, depression, and suicide in teens? Can we trace these emotional outcomes back to specific interactions on these platforms? And can we measure the level of toxicity embedded in their design?
We often hear that social media harms our mental health, but vague warnings aren’t enough. I wanted to understand the how and why. Could we identify the actual design choices behind this crisis—and more importantly, imagine better ones?
When I couldn’t find the answers, I began my own research. What followed became the first in-depth attempt to map mental distress to common user interactions. This is what I discovered—and where I believe we can go from here.
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