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19 Sep When Algorithms Go Too Far: What’s Next in Regulating Our Feeds

Posted at 16:24h in media by
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Your phone doesn’t just decide what you see — it decides how you feel. Autoplay, infinite scroll, push alerts — they’re not just design choices. They’re addiction triggers. And now people are starting to ask: what if our feeds are doing us harm?

The Case for Regulation

  • A report from Mental Health America titled “Breaking the Algorithm: Redesigning Social Media for Youth Well-Being” argues that algorithmic features intentionally built to maximize engagement are harming young people. Mental Health America

  • In the EU, the Digital Fairness Act (and similar proposals) are pushing platforms to reduce addictive design features. Petrie-Flom Center

  • Multiple academic studies (e.g. Social Media and Youth Mental Health, Scoping Review 2025) find high correlation between heavy algorithmic content exposure and poor mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, loneliness) among younger users. PMC+2PMC+2

What’s At Stake

  • Users may feel stuck in harmful feedback loops — doomscrolling, envy, self-comparison — especially when the content that drives engagement tends to be negative, sensational, or high-arousal.

  • Platforms are under pressure: either from users, regulators, or both. Changes could harm business models that rely on maximizing time spent.

  • Brands could be affected: If platforms throttle back addictive techniques, virality or reach metrics might look different. Also, brand reputation may improve if brands are seen as responsible players.

What To Do (Human / Brand / Policy Moves)

Individuals / Users:

  • Turn off non-essential notifications

  • Limit screen time (or use time-boxed sessions for passive scroll)

  • Use “chronometers” / checks in your phone settings to monitor your usage

Brands / Creators:

  • Build content that respects viewer autonomy: give choices, avoid clickbait, engage with nuance

  • Be transparent: maybe label your algorithmic triggers — e.g. “this post is boosted / trending / likely to get engagement”

  • Lean into formats that reward meaningful interaction (comments, community, UGC) rather than just passive views

Policy / Regulation:

  • Support laws or guidelines that require platforms to offer “non-addictive” modes (e.g. “slow feed,” “serious content only,” etc.)

  • Push for algorithmic transparency: how is content prioritized, what signals are being used, what emotional states are being triggered?

  • Expand digital literacy: help people understand how they are manipulated by design — e.g. infinite scroll, autoplay, push alerts