Not Just Phone Use: Psychologist Says Teenagers Now Trapped in Social Media Dopamine Cycle

Excessive device usage and social media access now represents a genuine threat to adolescent behavioural development. Child psychologist Rose Mini Agoes Salim warned that digital platform algorithms risk trapping teenagers in dependency that is difficult to break.

Rose Mini explained that the way algorithms function causes users to be continuously exposed to content relevant to their interests, creating a narrow world for teenagers. “If they like games, then only games appear. If they like shopping, then only shopping appears. Eventually their world becomes limited to just those things,” said Prof. Rose Mini.

Massive content exposure without supervision also triggers impulsive behaviour, particularly the ease of digital transactions that encourages consumerism in teenagers without independent income. “They know how to spend money, but don’t know how to earn it. Because everything feels easy and isn’t visible,” she stressed.

Without education and parental control, adolescents lose the ability to exercise self-restraint. Child psychologist Alva Paramitha highlighted the connection between teenage brain function and social media features such as TikTok or Instagram Reels. Short videos and endless scrolling features are designed to provide instant rewards. “This triggers the desire to keep viewing the next piece of content. Additionally, teenagers seeking identity need validation. When they receive many likes, they feel accepted,” Alva explained.

The government has currently imposed access restrictions on high-risk digital platforms for children under 16 years old to protect them from harmful effects of cyberspace.

Experts agree that government regulation must be supported by active parental involvement. Rose Mini emphasised that children need to be taught how to manage device usage, especially for productive purposes and school requirements. If teenagers spend most of their time in the digital world, their social skills, critical thinking abilities, and creativity risk not developing optimally. Parents are expected to continue accompanying their children, especially when entering pre-teenage years, to ensure they remain grounded in social reality.