Social media rewires young minds – here’s how https://theconversation.com/social-media-rewires-young-minds-heres-how-243120?
January 20, 2025
That satisfying feeling after doomscrolling through endless TikTok videos or impulsively shopping online mimics the relief of scratching an itch. This is dopamine at work — a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) responsible for feelings of reward and accomplishment. Whether indulging in viral videos or engaging in new hobbies, dopamine creates a sense of achievement that keeps us coming back for more.
However, reliance on these dopamine hits can lead to lasting brain changes, particularly in teenagers and young adults...Scientists have found that every time you get a notification, a “like”, or even watch a video you enjoy, your brain’s reward system (the nucleus accumbens) gets activated. This is the same system that makes people feel pleasure when they win money or eat their favourite snack. ocial media is designed to keep you hooked, much like gambling or drinking. Every notification, like and comment triggers dopamine, making it harder to stop. Scientists call this “delay discounting”, which is when you choose the immediate reward (scrolling) over something important, like studying, sleeping or even hanging out with friends in real life.