Social media algorithms and their impact on mental health and society

The pervasive influence of social media algorithms is increasingly linked to significant psychological and societal consequences. Platforms designed by Big Tech companies prioritize engagement by utilizing algorithms that exploit human emotions and cognitive vulnerabilities to maximize screen time. This has led to the rise of phenomena such as the 'fabeltjesfuik' (rabbit hole effect), where users are fed increasingly extreme content, contributing to social polarization, conspiracy theories, and online aggression.

Psychologically, the constant stimulation and comparison inherent in digital environments are associated with rising rates of anxiety and depression, particularly among adolescents. Specific issues like Orthorexia Nervosa—an unhealthy obsession with eating only 'pure' foods—are highlighted as potential consequences of the idealized lifestyles promoted on social media. Furthermore, the digital environment can weaken critical thinking by replacing logical analysis with constant emotional triggers.

In response to these challenges, concepts like 'digital minimalism' have gained traction. This philosophy encourages users to reclaim sovereignty over their lives by limiting digital activities to a few intentional choices, thereby recovering traditional practices such as deep reading and uninterrupted face-to-face conversation.