Dopamine Chronicles (4/4): When will we regulate?
Science -> impactful regulations -> more of the good stuff and less of the good stuff
Regulation is complicated.
Humans crave freedom, and most unsustainable behaviors tend to self-correct over time. Yet, we regulate alcohol, tobacco, and drugs for good reason.
This four-part series began with my personal story: how ditching my smartphone, blocking the news, and breaking hidden addiction patterns transformed my life. My mental health, motivation, and overall satisfaction improved dramatically.
This made me wonder: What is screen addiction doing to individuals and society as a whole? Is it causing invisible damage? And to which extent
I know one thing for sure—we can't rely solely on individuals to manage these addictions. And when it comes to children, the issue is even more critical. Modern screens may harm brain development, eroding attention spans, creativity, and the ability to embrace boredom—all essential for innovation.
I struggle with this myself. How can we expect kids to manage it?
Should We Regulate Screen Use?
Digital tools offer instant gratification, always within arm’s reach. Dopamine-driven feedback loops make us crave more, yet the satisfaction is shallow. We saw early signs of harm years ago, but now the consequences are undeniable.
The problem worsens because Big Tech invests billions to capture attention. Their products evolve continuously, becoming more addictive with each iteration. We're up against forces designed to exploit our psychological vulnerabilities.
Is It Up to the Individual?
Tim Ferriss avoids social media, comparing it to "bringing a knife to a gunfight." You can't win.
Addiction thrives in enabling environments. Expecting individuals to resist highly engineered digital temptations is unrealistic. Willpower has limits, especially when convenience and social connectivity are at stake.
For children, the stakes are higher. Giving a developing brain unregulated screen access might be as harmful as giving it drugs. Kids lack the self-regulation mechanisms to protect themselves.
So, is personal responsibility enough? I don’t think so.
When to Regulate
We should be cautious with restrictions, but we can all agree that regulation on smoking has been for the greater good.
I am happy today that the governments created an environment which made it easier for me to abstain from smoking.
Thus, under the right conditions, we should consider regulating things that are potentially harmful and difficult for individuals to control on their own.
Below I list areas where I see potential harm which can be reasons to regulate:
Protecting Future Generations: Developing brains are vulnerable to addictive designs. Regulations can limit exposure during critical growth stages, safeguarding cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Preserving Public Health: Digital habits contribute to anxiety, depression, attention disorders, sleep issues, and sedentary lifestyles. The societal impact justifies intervention.
Preventing Exploitation of Human Psychology: Algorithms are optimized to hijack attention, exploiting dopamine-driven feedback loops. Regulation can curb these manipulative practices.
Ensuring Fair Access to Focus: Time and attention are finite. Regulations can establish "attention rights," protecting individuals from predatory competition for their focus.
Reducing Polarization and Misinformation: Social media amplifies sensational content, fostering division and misinformation. Algorithmic transparency and accountability are essential.
Preventing Societal Decline: Screen addiction erodes creativity, critical thinking, and resilience—qualities vital for addressing future challenges. Regulation can help preserve these traits.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Populations: Children, teens, and those with mental health issues are most at risk. Targeted regulations can include age restrictions, screen time limits, and digital well-being features.
Final thoughts
I am a finance major. I see things through the lens of cost/benefit analysis. I acknowledge that phones, social medias, internet and all these technologies have immense value to humanity. The problem is the cost aspect. It is like a company that grew fat and lazy through good times. We have no control of the cost element to our P&L. I believe we can keep benefits, but reducing cost with small changes such as
adding age limits to platform
regulating how bright and colorful screens can be
regulating the speed of the processor
embed screen time limits by default on phones
etc.
All these needs a reason and science to be implemented and science to back it up - but there is hope.
I think to be honest it is inevitable that we will get there. It will take time.
Think through it. Help save me and future generations <3 Take good decisions now.