Source: French to English Tester Published on: 2026-04-06
Source: The Conversation – in French– By Salima Kerai, Research Fellow, Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children; Adjunct Faculty, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
In ahistoric decision, a Los Angeles jury concluded that the social networking company Meta and the streaming service YouTube had caused harm to a young user.
The lawsuit launched by the Federal Trade Commission established that their platforms deliberately created addiction, leading to mental health disorders, includingbody dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
While otherscourts must rule, this verdict is reminiscent of themajor trials that brought the big tobacco companies to their knees. Everywhere, thecalls for better regulationsocial networks are intensifying.
TheAustralia, theFranceand theSpainhave already established restrictions regarding the age of users. But Canada, for its part, has still not legislated ononline damage.
But in this whole battle, one question is often neglected: what makes teenagers so vulnerable to platforms?
Dopamine peaks and immature brains
Imagine Sara, 14 years old, found unconscious after a suicide attempt. Fulfilled, supported by her family, she was nevertheless succeeding at school and living within a dynamic community. But behind her closed door, she was secretly fighting against a slowly settling illness: the feeling of not being good enough.
Sara spent hours scrolling through messages, posting her own, chasing “likes”… until the recognition stopped flowing. Without any confidant, despite her 150 online followers, she came to believe that she was completely alone.
The fictional character of Sara is inspired by clinical experiences and research, but the story is common.
Like so many teenagers, Sara turned to social networks to express herself, create connections, and find a sense of belonging. At first, it was good.Each small dose of dopaminebrought it back to these networks. Then the habit became difficult to control.
According to research on the developing adolescent brain, intensive use of social networks can overstimulate the reward circuits in the same way as gambling andother addictive behaviors.
The immature system of teenagers makes themparticularly sensitive to social reactionsandless able to cope with rejection. This makes them vulnerable to the hazards of online interactions. Quick and repeated negative comments, in particular, can intensify emotional stress.
A teenager’s brain is like a highway inconstruction, with fast tracks open (the limbic system, seat of emotions) and others under construction (the prefrontal cortex, which controls impulses and judgment).
Thisimbalancemeans that the flow of emotions arrives too quickly for the control center. This results in traffic jams on the judgment side. Teenagers, who then have difficulty taking a moment to pause and evaluate the situation, give in to impulses.
The trap of comparison
Social comparison further increases this tension. Faced with the parade of images of seemingly perfect lives, Sara feels inadequate.Desire, insecurity andfear of missing outthreaten her confidence. Encouraged by social networks to constantly self-assess, she monitors her “likes,” comments, and online appearance.
Research establishes a link between thisself-focusand theincrease in anxiety, particularly among adolescents, already under pressure.
Puberty makes things worse, because it makes the brain more sensitive to social and emotional signals. Since puberty often occurs earlier and more intensely in girls,Anxiety and depression induced by social networksaffect them disproportionately.
Connected and disconnected
Most of the time spent on social networks is neither active nor social, but passive. Barely 7% of the time on Instagram and 17% on Facebook involve interactions between friends,was learned during the trial. The rest: a scroll of content to watch, which creates the illusion of a connection while reinforcing the feeling of isolation.
Extensive studies all establish a link between intensive platform use and the deterioration of physical health (sleep deprivation,obesity).
Another risk arises from loneliness. The fundamental need to feel seen and understood not being met, the body interprets this lack as stress. The impact on health of this chronic lonelinessis equivalent to the consumption of 10 cigarettes per day.
In Canada, teenagersdescribe themselveslike constantly connected online, but paradoxically increasingly disconnected in real life. They are constantly urged to present an idealized version of themselves without being able to disconnect. However, they say, it is easy to misinterpret online communication, which weakens relationships and worsens isolation. They are torn – between their attraction to connection and a connection that only makes things worse.
A call to action
A study in eight countries involving 9,000 adolescents established the close linkbetween intensive use of social networks and high rates of depression and anxiety.
Who would let a 14-year-old teenager drive a car without training on the rules and safety? Yet, we give them unlimited access to platforms designed to capture their attention and maximize their engagement – even though the effects on physical and mental health are known.
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In Canada, suicide is thesecond leading cause of deathamong 15 to 24 year olds. Mental illnesses already cost51 billion dollars per year, and 70% of the affected peopleshow symptoms from adolescence.
It is essential to regulate social networks. Like road safety, a multi-level approach will be needed.
Platforms must be designed more responsibly. Age limits must be strictly defined and enforced. And digital technology education must help young people understand and manage what happens there.
The question is no longer whether measures are necessary, but whether they will be taken in time to stem the epidemic of mental illnesses threatening the next generation.
Salima Kerai does not work for, does not advise, does not own shares in, does not receive funds from any organization that could benefit from this article, and has declared no affiliation other than her research institution.
–ref. Social networks: neuroscience explains the vulnerability of adolescents –https://theconversation.com/social-networks-neuroscience-explains-the-vulnerability-of-adolescents-279924