"“They're ubiquitous, digital and spreading at a pace that has outstripped the country's social and regulatory guardrails.”"
"“Governments didn't turn a blind eye to most of this behavior. They encouraged it. We're scaling sin in real time.”"
"“As our laws have become less moralistic and more libertarian, addictive behaviors have increased.”"
"“24 states plus D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana, with 40 states allowing medical use. The Trump administration ordered the reclassification of medical marijuana as a Schedule III drug last month, moving it from alongside heroin and ecstasy to the same category as steroids and ketamine. States have collected nearly $25 billion in cannabis tax revenue since the first legal sales began in 2014, according to the Marijuana Policy Project - with 2024 alone setting a record at $4.4 billion.”"
Digital addictive behaviors have become ubiquitous and spreading faster than social and regulatory guardrails. Governments have not only tolerated but encouraged many practices, scaling them in real time through many small governance changes rather than a single turning point. Laws have become less moralistic and more libertarian, coinciding with increased addictive behaviors. Americans report valuing money more than patriotism, religion, having children, and community. Key drivers include legalization of marijuana across many states, reclassification of medical marijuana, and large cannabis tax revenues. Another driver is betting, enabled by mobile sportsbooks that reduce friction and contribute to harm while generating state revenue.
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