[afavour]

It's frustrating to see this response so often, as if it weren't blindingly obvious.

After years of near monopoly status these companies have a lock on many people's social lives. To give up Instagram is akin to giving up text messaging. "Just stop using it" isn't helpful advice to those people.

If Instagram disappeared tomorrow it would be different, because everyone would be in the same position. But preaching personal responsibility in an area subject to network effects doesn't work.

[securicat]

Give me a break. No one says “I can’t live without Instagram” literally. There are even studies that show that it makes their users depressed. From inside the company that _makes the product_.

Now, would it be inconvenient to stop, sure, but people need better self control. Put that cookie down!

[afavour]

> No one says “I can’t live without Instagram” literally.

That's a straw man argument. I never said they were.

> There are even studies that show that it makes their users depressed.

What percentage of the population do you think are in the habit of reading academic studies about the effects of the products they use?

It all feels reminiscent of cigarette smoking. The damage was very well known yet people continued to do it. It took extensive government regulation to wean people off their addiction, not a "buck up, chump" motivational message.

[pixl97]

I don't believe the above user is here to have a well thought out discussion, they just want to tell the world how much better they are than the social media addicts.

[securicat]

I never said you did say that.