My post last week was all about the political ramifications of social media. But they are called “social” media for a reason. The social effects are easily as important and problematic. So here goes: the problem and some solutions.

The news from around the world (not yet in Israel with “bigger issues” to deal with) shows a growing trend regarding social media: get it out of the hands of our youth! Australia has already passed a law banning social media from anyone under 16 and other countries (e.g., Germany and Spain) are considering similar legislation.

But what about adults? Indeed, if the anti-minor laws relate to the micro-situation of each young person’s mental health, could it be that for adults the problem is macro-political health? Simply put, as a general rule do social media harm democracy? The answer is a strong “yes.” Why and how?

Because social media undermine trust in the rulers, the bureaucracy, and even in their fellow citizens. Here are three central ways this occurs:

First, social media personalize the information each of us receives based on algorithms whose main purpose is to keep us “engaged.” The best way to do that is to continually feed each of us with “information” that we find attractive, either informatively or emotionally. Thus, many citizens in the same country end up inhabiting non overlapping political realities.

Second, social media algorithms will give higher priority to political scandals, government failures, and national threats as these play into our emotional, negative, and identity affirming preferences.

Third and connected to these two elements: whereas in the previous “legacy media” era (print newspapers,........

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