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 The first video I watched "The true toxicity of social media revealed" discussed how depression (especially teen depression) is deeply correlated with social media usage. In fact, there is a 70% increase in depression in the last 25 years according to the source. Even though social media is claimed to be increasing inclusivity and connectivity, many results indicate the opposite. Social media sites' general algorithm is designed to isolate us from the things we do not like or understand and pushes us to the things we like and are familiar with. Therefore we can never be actually interconnected. In a Tedx by Jacquelyn Quinones, there was an interesting quote by a psychologist: "If there was a legal drug that creates the same effects as social media, it would be banned." And I believe it is true, social media is a mass psychosis. Just like tobacco addiction, by using social media you are deliberately exposing yourself to potential harm. Because of social media, o...

In today's world, the notion of empathy is very much lost and I believe the main reason for that is the overconsumption of social media applications since spending so much time on these platforms is lacking our skills to really interact and understand each other. We are so used to looking at our phones when we are bored (even if we are with somebody) that we get less chance to practice empathy. The second the conversation becomes awkward or dull, we immediately grab our phones to check what other people are doing on Instagram as if it is the most significant thing of that moment. It is not, or at least it should not be.  This issue has become my main focus nowadays. I want to investigate this loss of empathy from different aspects. What are the algorithms and design decisions that make these platforms so addictive? Which strategies are these people or companies using to have such a chilling impact on human activity and psychology? Are they intentionally making these decisions just ...