[teractiveodular]

A couple of counterexamples from a declining demographic is not much to flatly deny the article's entire case.

There are vast teams of marketers and data scientists hard at work making things like food and social media more appealing and addictive. Of course more people are, on average, going to get more addicted to them, even if a few fish have the willpower to swim against the tide or the money to buy the chemicals to do it instead.

[s1artibartfast]

To be clear, not saying it is easy and I'm not saying that there is no trend. Screen time has gone up, obesity has gone up, neuroticism has gone up

Im not convinced that money is the solution to addiction and just a few more purchases away. In fact, I think rampant consumerism and trained helplessness are the crux of the problem.

[jmathai]

It’s odd to think it reasonable to consider a solution to self inflicted addictions is drugs.

When I say self inflicted, I mean our society. I do think it’s unfortunate (and very unfair) that we have to expend so much energy not to be addicted. It’s such a sad outcome and driven by capitalistic consumerism.

I have a lot of concern for my kids. And I’m disgusted that grown adults are profiting from all of it.

[s1artibartfast]

It is actually takes much less energy to not be addicted. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to quit once addicted.

It is a lot like cigarettes in that way. Its not too hard to avoid smoking. Smoke daily for a few years and most people have a huge struggle quitting.