It is the same as drugs and over eating.<p>Stimulus creates dopamine and serotonin.<p>The difference is on my phone I can be stimulated by sounds, lights, and emotions.  Drugs may modify emotions, but they dont plant them like media does.<p>Like TV I can VERY RAPIDLY switch topics or inputs, like video games it is always interactive and responding to my command, and like human conversation it can be social and participatory.  It is a trifecta of control, conversation, and variety, that I can&#x27;t get elsewhere.  Bored?  Instead of resorting to antidepressents to make boredom copable, I can stimulate myself out of the drudgery of modern life.  Is this a new form of the same unhealthy behaviors I mentioned at the beginning?<p>I dont think social media should be singled out, unless we agree it is a bunk term.  Flipping through imgur mindlessly is the same as flipping through instagram.  Facebook isnt all that different than google news&#x2F;feedly.<p>You say you are purging your social media accounts, but you here on hacker news, indulging in social conversation.  Potato tomato.  Gotta get your fix somewhere.