NYT OP -Letter 2025

Dear, SNS CEOs,

Words like “addiction” or “brain rot”, once surfacing on the internet, have become a harsh reality for people, especially teenagers. According to The New York Times, Oxford chose “brain rot” as the Word of the Year in 2024, showing how excessive SNS usage can ruin our brain.

Just days ago, I was finishing my English homework, then opened YouTube to find a helpful video. I was going to watch just one. However, I couldn’t resist the colorful thumbnails and high view counts. An hour went by, then three, then five. In the end, I (wasn’t) didn’t finish my homework.

I found this isn’t just a matter of self-control. According to experts, when scrolling on social media, we get lost in the digital world, becoming dissatisfied with our real lives. This is called “popcorn brain”—when we enjoy short content so much that we lose patience for long, real-world activities.

Studies from Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and University College London show that excessive phone use leads to health hazards like emotional irregularity, poor critical thinking, and delays in prefrontal cortex development. This especially affects the young, as their brains are still growing.

SNS apps like YouTube and Instagram already have screen time features, but they haven’t been effective. We need stricter boundaries.

Big industries are often held accountable. For instance, cigarette packs carry graphic warnings. In Korea, SK Telecom and KT promote digital detox campaigns. I believe SNS companies can do the same.

As leaders of a generation, I urge you to act. One way is to lock short-form content after a certain number of views, forcing teens to take breaks. It should also include age verification for viewing time. Platforms could also run campaigns about the mental health risks of overusing SNS. Celebrities could support offline activities through concerts or events.

I don’t want SNS companies to disappear. But I ask you to stay responsible. Your apps helped me discover my passions. Still, I sincerely plead with you: stop fighting for our attention—please help save our brains.

Thank you,