Context · Social Media
Social media feeds have no end by design, the infinite scroll removes the natural stopping point, and your child is not weak for failing to stop, because the app was engineered to prevent exactly that.
How it works
Every platform uses variable reward, the same mechanism as a slot machine, and that combination of scrolling and the occasional something-good makes it almost impossible to stop on your own.
What your child experiences
Kids do not experience scrolling as a choice, and "I will watch one video" becomes "I have been here for an hour" without any conscious decision in between.
What to watch for
Watch for irritability when the phone is taken away, difficulty engaging with slower activities, and saying "I'm bored" without devices, because those are not personality traits, they are signs that the reward loop has taken hold.