Dr. Alok Kanojia

And in terms of what's going on in the brain, well, it turns out that depending on what your choice is, whether it's alcohol or shopping or social media, what's happening in the brain is actually like quite different. So that's kind of the common pathway. But then there's a lot of detail about what circuits are affected and things like that.

So social media addiction is like really interesting because the first thing to understand is that see substance use addictions. So these are things like alcohol, opioids, marijuana. These act in a very discreet way. Right. So I have a molecule of alcohol that crosses the blood brain barrier and then activate something called the GABA receptor. So it's like very targeted.

So social media addiction is like really interesting because the first thing to understand is that see substance use addictions. So these are things like alcohol, opioids, marijuana. These act in a very discreet way. Right. So I have a molecule of alcohol that crosses the blood brain barrier and then activate something called the GABA receptor. So it's like very targeted.

So social media addiction is like really interesting because the first thing to understand is that see substance use addictions. So these are things like alcohol, opioids, marijuana. These act in a very discreet way. Right. So I have a molecule of alcohol that crosses the blood brain barrier and then activate something called the GABA receptor. So it's like very targeted.

The issue with a lot of these technologies is that they're not nearly as targeted. So we see a lot more of a whole brain effect. And the different problems that you described each have like unique parts of the brain that they affect. So let's like run through those. So social media does a couple of fundamental things. The first is that it messes with our sense of identity.

The issue with a lot of these technologies is that they're not nearly as targeted. So we see a lot more of a whole brain effect. And the different problems that you described each have like unique parts of the brain that they affect. So let's like run through those. So social media does a couple of fundamental things. The first is that it messes with our sense of identity.

The issue with a lot of these technologies is that they're not nearly as targeted. So we see a lot more of a whole brain effect. And the different problems that you described each have like unique parts of the brain that they affect. So let's like run through those. So social media does a couple of fundamental things. The first is that it messes with our sense of identity.

So if we think about like on social media, I have a representation of myself. And then when that representation of myself gets activated, there are really primitive circuits of the brain of things like social status and social relationships and connectedness with other human beings. Social media activates all of those circuits.

So if we think about like on social media, I have a representation of myself. And then when that representation of myself gets activated, there are really primitive circuits of the brain of things like social status and social relationships and connectedness with other human beings. Social media activates all of those circuits.

So if we think about like on social media, I have a representation of myself. And then when that representation of myself gets activated, there are really primitive circuits of the brain of things like social status and social relationships and connectedness with other human beings. Social media activates all of those circuits.

And the challenge that we really run into, just to give you like one really example, so a simple example is social media oftentimes leads to problems with body image, right? So we're seeing a rise in body dysmorphia in both men and women. And there are really simple ways that it does this.

And the challenge that we really run into, just to give you like one really example, so a simple example is social media oftentimes leads to problems with body image, right? So we're seeing a rise in body dysmorphia in both men and women. And there are really simple ways that it does this.

And the challenge that we really run into, just to give you like one really example, so a simple example is social media oftentimes leads to problems with body image, right? So we're seeing a rise in body dysmorphia in both men and women. And there are really simple ways that it does this.

So anytime you use social media, there are a lot of apps now that will automatically filter and adjust your appearance. So if you take like a picture on an app like TikTok, it will apply a filter without you doing anything.

So anytime you use social media, there are a lot of apps now that will automatically filter and adjust your appearance. So if you take like a picture on an app like TikTok, it will apply a filter without you doing anything.

So anytime you use social media, there are a lot of apps now that will automatically filter and adjust your appearance. So if you take like a picture on an app like TikTok, it will apply a filter without you doing anything.

And so over time, what happens is we start to build up an identity of ourselves that is a virtual identity that gets a certain number of likes, dislikes, call it whatever you want. And then what happens is like literally when I look at like my pictures online, I'm a prettier version of what I see in the mirror. So I put forth this face to the outside world.

And so over time, what happens is we start to build up an identity of ourselves that is a virtual identity that gets a certain number of likes, dislikes, call it whatever you want. And then what happens is like literally when I look at like my pictures online, I'm a prettier version of what I see in the mirror. So I put forth this face to the outside world.

And so over time, what happens is we start to build up an identity of ourselves that is a virtual identity that gets a certain number of likes, dislikes, call it whatever you want. And then what happens is like literally when I look at like my pictures online, I'm a prettier version of what I see in the mirror. So I put forth this face to the outside world.

And then I spend a lot of time and energy because now it's become a part of our jobs. It's become a part of our social circles, right? We have to be active on Facebook or Instagram or whatever, LinkedIn. So now I invest in this person. But then when I wake up in the morning and I look at myself in the mirror, I'm not that person.