How Social Media Hooked My Son

A Silicon Valley Dad’s Warning

Introduction

Son, I need to have an important conversation with you. You know how much I’ve been involved in the tech world, right? Working in Silicon Valley has given me a front-row seat to the creation of the social media platforms you use every day. But there’s something you need to understand about these platforms that you might not have thought about before. These social media companies, like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, they’re a lot like modern-day drug dealers. They’re designed to get us hooked, to keep us coming back for more, just like any addictive substance.

The Allure of Social Media

Social media’s addictive nature isn’t a coincidence. The people who create these platforms use specific design tricks to keep us engaged. Infinite scrolling, constant notifications, and carefully curated content — all these features are there to keep us glued to our screens. Every time you get a like or a comment, your brain gets a little hit of dopamine, the same chemical that makes people feel good when they eat, exercise, or even take drugs. This cycle is explained well in books like “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal. It feels good, so we keep going back for more.