"Doomscrolling" isn't just a bad habit; it is a trillion-dollar business model. Tech giants often use "dark patterns"—psychological tricks borrowed from casino slot machines—to hijack your dopamine receptors and keep your eyes glued to the screen to sell more ads. While the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) has started to regulate content, a new front is opening up regarding the actual design of the software itself. Proponents argue this is the "tobacco moment" for Big Tech and products designed to be chemically addictive require strict regulation to protect public mental health. Opponents argue this is extreme regulatory overreach that treats citizens like lab rats, stifles innovation, and ignores the personal responsibility involved in simply putting the phone down.
