Jay Van Bavel, PhD(@jayvanbavel):This is revealing: "nearly every one of the Gen Z-ers we spoke to explicitly asked for systemic, top-down change to social media platforms. Not through self-control apps or screen-time reminders but through the only mechanism they believe could work: regulation." One participant drew a direct parallel to tobacco: “Before the government regulated the tobacco industry, everyone was smoking, even though they knew it was bad. Because the environment encouraged and allowed for that to happen. Yeah, the doctors would smoke. Now we need to get into a state where the environment shifts so young people’s habits shift.”

2026.09.15 15:55

This is revealing: "nearly every one of the Gen Z-ers we spoke to explicitly asked for systemic, top-down change to social media platforms. Not through self-control apps or screen-time reminders but through the only mechanism they believe could work: regulation." One participant drew a direct parallel to tobacco: “Before the government regulated the tobacco industry, everyone was smoking, even though they knew it was bad. Because the environment encouraged and allowed for that to happen. Yeah, the doctors would smoke. Now we need to get into a state where the environment shifts so young people’s habits shift.”