> 5. Talk about it - if you’re reading this you a already know this is a problem. Your friends and family may not be aware of how their feeds are manipulating their attention and beliefs. Without intervention, the radicalisation of opinions, and the consequences we’re already seeing, will only escalate.

This is not Crack fortunately.

Physical dependence -> dopamine -> euphoria, escape, coping with stress + anxiety -> cannot feel pleasure without the drug -> craving for the drug / dependence. Recovery includes confronting the physical feeling that the drug is essential for perceived well-being.

Psychological dependence (TikTok / Insta Feed) -> sense of belonging, validation, purpose -> sense of identity via subculture, especially for "marginalized" or "insecure" individuals -> (side-note, some TikTok / Insta / MAGA+Dem / feeds CREATE+encourage the sense of marginalization / insecurity) -> us versus them -> isolation, only valuing subculture views, promoted distorted beliefs, detachment -> dependence (again). Recovery includes depression, anxiety, and feelings of loss.

WEANING

- Drug: medical intervention, therapy, support, relapse prevention

- Social: therapy, reconnection, critical thinking development, finding alt purpose, gradual separation

The thing is that those needs people are trying to fulfill with social media feeds are mostly real and legitimate. The problem is to find alternate, and better, sources of fulfillment. This is something you cannot talk into existence.

Talking helps. That’s why therapy is effective. Even just bringing awareness to the problem can help people.

Talking isn’t a magic bullet, but it’s part of the solution.

Meanwhile we have gambling addiction that flies in the face of everything you're saying here.

Sure, but it's nice to be reaffirmed, and maybe this is handy grist for discussions with friends, family, and colleagues.

Cute.

Learning how to think critically, I think that's the intersection of this cartoon and this blog post.