Psychologist Warns Social Media Platforms Are Designed to Disrupt Brain Chemistry

Every person who uses social media has an altered dopamine pathway in the brain — and that is by design, according to psychologist Michal Božík. Speaking as a guest on the Slovak talk show Vizita, Božík explained that social media platforms are deliberately engineered to exploit the brain's reward system, triggering dopamine responses that keep users engaged and returning for more. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation, and its repeated artificial stimulation through likes, notifications, and scrolling can reshape habitual behavior over time. Božík's comments reflect a growing body of concern among mental health professionals about the long-term psychological effects of prolonged social media use on both adults and young people.