Hooked to the feed: Ways to cut back social media addiction | Daily Sabah

A group holds hands outside a landmark trial over whether social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children, in Los Angeles, U.S., Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo) Addiction to social media has been likened to that of casinos, opioids and cigarettes. While there’s some debate among experts about the line between overuse and addiction, and whether social media can cause the latter, there is no doubt that many people feel like they can’t escape the pull of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms. The companies that designed your favorite apps have an incentive to keep you glued to them so they can serve up ads that make them billions of dollars in revenue. Resisting the pull of the endless scroll, the dopamine hits from short-form videos and the ego boost and validation that come from likes and positive interactions, can seem like an unfair fight. For some people, “rage-bait,” gloomy news and arguing with internet strangers also have an irresistible draw. Much of the concern around social media addiction has focused on children. But adults are also susceptible to using social media so much that it starts affecting their day-to-day lives. Dr. Anna Lembke, a psychiatrist and the medical director
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