The "Everyone Is Twelve" Theory

The gist

1. Four design features of short-form apps, algorithmic feeds, infinite scroll, variable rewards, and auto-play, systematically offload decision-making from the prefrontal cortex.
2. Manson says impulsivity is now branded as authenticity, flipping historical status signals where self-regulation was considered the mark of maturity.
3. The algorithm can only monetize what you say, so it selects for the loudest, most reactive, most unfiltered behavior as the winning strategy.
4. Manson argues individual fixes like digital detoxes treat symptoms, not the root problem, which is a cultural incentive structure that rewards acting like a 12-year-old.