Why the threat still feels urgent today

In a world where kids learn to swipe screens long before they learn to write, concerns about digital dependence have only grown louder. All the way back in 2024, Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk fired up a well-needed conversation when he warned parents that hidden dangers lurked behind excessive social media exposure. Musk explained how AI-powered algorithms, built with the single goal of maximizing engagement, have created an “extreme competition” between platforms. This competition, he warned, was manipulating children’s dopamine responses, keeping them hooked without their knowledge. A number of years later, the warning still feels painfully relevant, particularly as tech companies continue fine-tuning their tools to hold user attention for longer.