This is the long-form companion to the 'dead-mall' short. The short was the hook — 69 seconds on the contradiction. This is the full research trail, the full argument, the full self-implication. See the short's writeup for the research notes.
Sources
- APA Healthy Minds Poll: Half of Adults Cut Back Social Media (2025)
- The Last Days of Social Media — NOEMA Magazine
- Buffer: State of Social Media Engagement 2026 (52M+ Posts)
- In 2025, Americans Detoxed. In 2026, They're Quitting Entirely — SAN
- Oregon State University: Social Media Usage and Loneliness Study