The Effects of Social Media on Adolescent Brain Size

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The area of the brain that's activated on social media is where it gives you a dopamine and an oxytocin response when you are being agreed with or getting a dose of your brain. That can lead to what as scientists we stay away from the word addiction, but we do talk about problematic social media use. We're starting to hear that a lot of kids are experiencing a remarkable amount of stress from their devices.

Congress has yet to pass legislation regulating social media companies, so parents are taking matters into their own hands. A lawyer representing them explains how a new spin on an old legal theory might lead to a big win.

This episode was produced by Haleema Shah, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey and Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

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