The Battle Between States and Meta: Addiction and Altered Realities

The conversation around social media addiction is gaining momentum, fueled by new data on Gen Z's social media usage and a recent lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. While there is no official psychiatric diagnosis for social media addiction, many young people struggle to stop their use and feel "obsessed." Studies have shown that excessive social media use can negatively impact mental health, particularly among adolescents. Red flags of addiction include an inability to stop, interference with daily routines, lying to maintain use, and problems with schoolwork or relationships. It is important for parents to establish boundaries, teach critical thinking, and model appropriate phone and social media use to mitigate the risks.