The article delves into the escalating global debate concerning the safety of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, likening their risks to those posed by alcohol or tobacco addiction. Courts in the United States are beginning to address these concerns in cases against companies like Meta and Google, while TikTok is facing increasing scrutiny in Europe. This illustrates the rising awareness and urgent discussions surrounding the use of social media by younger populations.

Researchers have been increasingly focused on the implications of adolescents spending extensive hours on social media, with studies indicating that teenagers often spend between 2.5 to 4 hours daily on their smartphones. This screen time is displacing physical activities, learning new skills, and engaging in face-to-face interactions with peers, resulting in a concerning trend where time spent on platforms like TikTok comes at the expense of vital activities such as sleep.

The article highlights findings from studies, including one by the German Educational Research Association (MPFS), which reports that around 30% of teens often feel "overwhelmed" by their social media usage. Such insights stress the importance of understanding how prolonged engagement with these platforms affects adolescent well-being and raises questions of when parents and society should be concerned about the effects of social media on teenagers' mental health and social skills.