The Science Behind Why Social Media Makes Us Miserable

What this episode covers

This week on the Andrew Yang Podcast: We dive deep into the dark side of social media and how it’s reshaping democracy, fueling polarization, and harming mental health, especially for kids. Andrew is joined by Jay Van Bavel and Steven Rathje, two leading researchers uncovering what really drives virality, outrage, and division online. From Facebook’s algorithms to TikTok fame, this episode exposes how attention has become the new addiction, and what we can do to reclaim our minds. Watch the full episode here Have a question for Andrew? Drop it in the comments section below or send us a text or voice memo to [email protected]! Follow Andrew Yang: ⁠Website⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Follow Steve Rathje: ⁠Instagram⁠ | TikTok Follow Jay Van Bavel: Twitter | Instagram ---- Get 50% off Factor at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Factor Meals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get an extra 3 months free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Express VPN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 20% off + 2 free pillows at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Helix Sleep⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Use code: helixpartner20 Get $30 off your first two (2) orders at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wonder ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠| Use code: ANDREW104 ---- Subscribe to the Andrew Yang Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Andrew Yang Podcast?

This episode is 48 minutes long.

When was this Andrew Yang Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on October 20, 2025.

What is this episode about?

This week on the Andrew Yang Podcast: We dive deep into the dark side of social media and how it’s reshaping democracy, fueling polarization, and harming mental health, especially for kids. Andrew is joined by Jay Van Bavel and Steven Rathje, two...

Can I download this Andrew Yang Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.