Neustart Das richtet Social Media im Gehirn an
Feb 26, 2026
Eva Wolfangel, digital editor at DIE ZEIT who investigates social media’s effects on the brain. She discusses neuroscience findings on reward circuits and dopamine. She explains why adolescents are more vulnerable, how platforms tune feeds to capture attention, debates age limits versus regulating addictive design, and explores why some people resist endless scrolling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
My Failed Attempt To Get Hired By An AI Agent
- Eva created a RentAHuman.ai profile offering human skills to AI agents and set a $50 hourly rate but received no real job offers.
- She later learned researchers flagged the platform as likely a scam or art project rather than a functioning marketplace.
How Platforms Train Your Brain
- Social media exploit our brain's reward system by measuring tiny signals and training both algorithms and users in real time.
- Platforms log clicks and pauses, personalize feeds via A/B tests, and tune content to keep users returning longer.
Likes Trigger Real Reward Responses
- Likes and other social feedback activate reward hormones, producing feelings that encourage repeat posting and checking.
- Multiple studies and meta‑analyses show measurable reward‑center responses when users, especially teens, receive social feedback.