Teens: Social Media & Fentanyl

As we start a new week, I feel like I must apologize for the glumness of our featured articles today. Both of them cover issues that threaten the lives of young people today. While I generally try to be more balanced, these two pieces are both very powerful and well-written. I couldn't bring myself not to feature either of them.

Featured Articles

Has Social Media Fuelled a Teen-Suicide Crisis?

The New Yorker • 30 Sep 2024 • ~10200 words • Archive Link

This gut-wrenching piece explores the complex relationship between social media and the rise in teen mental health issues and suicide rates. It examines the potential harms of social media platforms, the legal and regulatory efforts to address these concerns, and the ongoing debate around the causal links between social media and adolescent mental health. The article raises important questions about the responsibility of tech companies, the challenges of research and policy in this rapidly evolving area, and the broader societal factors contributing to the mental health crisis among young people. Most of this is done through personal stories of pain and grief, which makes it a difficult but incredibly powerful read.

It is easy to suppose that blaming social media could be a way for parents to stop blaming themselves, but I never felt this with the parents I met; there was still plenty of room for self-blame. Activism was neither vengeful nor self-justifying; saving other people’s children was simply the best means of surviving one’s own loss. Although the world is sympathetic to grief, there is less grace for the confusion parents feel as they try to decipher a story that will never make sense.

Maylia and Jack: A Story of Teens and Fentanyl

ProPublica • 28 Sep 2024 • ~8000 words

This piece explores the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis on teenagers in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It follows the stories of Maylia, a 15-year-old drug dealer, and Jack, a 17-year-old user, whose lives intersect in a tragic way. The article raises questions about the criminal justice system's approach to dealing with teen drug use and the lack of adequate treatment options for young people struggling with opioid addiction.

Police knew she was selling fake Percocet but did not stop her. His mother sought the right treatment for his addiction but could not find it. Two teens got caught up in a system unprepared to handle kids on either side of the drug trade.

Recommended Articles

Paulo Freire’s Legacy and the Necessity of Critical Pedagogy in Dark Times

CounterPunch.org • 30 Sep 2024 • ~3900 words

In a time when education faces significant challenges from authoritarian regimes, this piece discusses the enduring legacy of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and the necessity of critical pedagogy in the face of attacks on critical thought. It explores how Freire's vision of education as a political act of liberation is more vital than ever in the current global climate, where fascist forces seek to control and censor education.

Freire understood that education and politics are inseparable; teaching critically is an act of defiance, a direct challenge to oppression. His pedagogy is not a sterile method but a living project of freedom, a force against oppression. Freire wasn’t just an intellectual—he was a revolutionary whose work offers both analysis and a pathway to liberation. He understood that people must be informed to act for justice, and that education, inherently political, empowers individuals to reflect, manage their lives, and engage critically in the struggle for power, agency, and a more just future. Freire’s message was clear: an informed and critically engaged populace is the greatest force against tyranny, and education must serve as the foundation for this transformative power.

Inside the dangerous world of papyrus dealing Frauds have infested the artefact trade

UnHerd • 29 Sep 2024 • ~2300 words

This piece delves into the murky trade of papyrus and other antiquities, exposing a tangled web of fraud, looting, and the often surprising motivations behind collectors and institutions.

. . . it took the power of modern celebrity to reveal the object’s true origins. The widely-publicised photograph led to a tip-off to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. A subsequent investigation proved that the museum had unwittingly spent $4 million on a looted artefact. Unearthed by grave robbers in Egypt’s Minya region during the 2011 revolution, the coffin had travelled to New York City by slow degrees, each stage of the process further obscuring its rotten provenance with forged export licences and faked histories of ownership.

Where Environmentalists Went Wrong

persuasion.community • 30 Sep 2024 • ~3300 words

In a thought-provoking piece, Yascha Mounk discusses the shortcomings of the environmental movement, arguing that many policies touted as environmentally friendly have had little real impact while imposing significant costs on quality of life. It suggests a new approach called "effective environmentalism" that prioritizes policies with the greatest positive environmental impact while minimizing disruptions to people's lives and avoiding political backlash. The article argues how this approach differs from the current focus on virtue signaling and lifestyle changes, and outlines key principles for effective environmental policies.

Banning plastic bags is an example of a policy that feels green. Plastic is produced from oil, creates pollution, and can harm animals. Wouldn’t it be better if people brought reusable canvas bags when they go shopping instead? The problem with this is not only that people will often forget to bring a bag, forcing them to purchase a significant number of reusable bags over time. It is also that cotton bags are actually extremely resource-intensive to produce. According to one study, a cotton bag would need to be reused a staggering 7,100 times for its carbon footprint to be as low as that of single-use plastic bags. This is the kind of data point to which effective environmentalists should pay close attention. Some policies “feel” green. Other policies “feel” dirty. But effective environmentalists should insist that the right metric for whether a policy should be adopted is not their feels or their cultural valence; it is whether they can help humanity solve the momentous challenge posed by climate change.

Is Bipolar Disorder Overdiagnosed?

Slate Magazine • 29 Sep 2024 • ~2900 words • Archive Link

Is bipolar disorder being overdiagnosed? This article explores this controversial issue, particularly in the context of pediatric psychiatry. It examines concerns around potential misdiagnosis and over-diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and how this may be steering patients towards inappropriate treatment and masking underlying conditions. The article raises questions about the evolving definition of bipolar disorder, the role of pharmaceutical companies, and the risk of overlooking other mental health conditions like borderline personality disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

Perhaps no topic in 21st-century adolescent psychiatry has been more controversial than pediatric bipolar, a diagnosis that can be applied to kids as young as 5 who have severe problems with emotional control. Critics say the label pathologizes normal but challenging parts of growing up. Proponents say it’s a needed intervention for kids not helped by other means.

A Grieving Mother. A Famous Uncle. An Unlikely Crusade.

New York Times • 29 Sep 2024 • ~5050 words • Archive Link

This article profiles Nadia Milleron and her journey from grief to activism. It explores how a personal tragedy turned Milleron into an activist crusading against Boeing and the regulatory system and how this unlikely campaign is now the fulfillment of a family obligation. The article examines Milleron's underdog journey and how personal loss transformed her into a determined advocate for accountability and change.

In early 2021, lawyers at the Clifford firm took the lead in negotiating a deal with Boeing. For the purposes of this specific litigation, the company would acknowledge that it was liable for the deaths of the Flight 302 passengers. Damages would be decided later, through mediators, judges or juries. The catch was that there would be no discovery process.

Griefbots and the Perils of Digital Immortality *

The Garden of Forking Paths • 29 Sep 2024 • ~1900 words

What if you could chat with a version of someone you loved who has passed away? This piece explores the rise of griefbots—AI chatbots that mimic deceased loved ones—and the emotional complexities they bring. Through the story of Joshua Barbeau and his digital resurrection of his fiancée Jessica, the article delves into the blurry lines of grief, memory, and the ethics of digital immortality.

See also: The Jessica Simulation: Love and loss in the age of A.I.

In other words, a version of “Jessica” produced today would stir much more frequent uncanny moments for Joshua, where the echoes of Jessica’s personality feel both more familiar and more natural. Even to the most disbelieving skeptic, it would be hard to shake those emotional moments of disbelief and doubt, in which users must consciously remind themselves: remember: this isn’t real.

* The full article is only accessible with a paid subscription, but a free trial is available. What’s available without a membership is still a good read.

This Book Helped Save the Planet—but Created a Very Harmful Myth

Slate Magazine • 29 Sep 2024 • ~1850 words • Archive Link

This article explores the concept of chemophobia - an irrational fear of chemicals - and its origins. It delves into how this fear has evolved over time, influenced by events like the publication of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" and environmental disasters. It examines its impact on public perception of synthetic versus natural substances. The piece raises questions about the role of science literacy, media sensationalism, and wellness influencers in perpetuating chemophobia while also considering its effects on consumer behavior and public health decisions.

Understandably, incidents like Love Canal and the publicity they generated underscored and amplified the public’s fear of synthetic chemicals as potentially, and perhaps even inherently, harmful to human health. But that assessment ignores one of the core principles of toxicology: The dose makes the poison.

How Politicians Made the Border Even More Dangerous for Asylum-Seekers

Rolling Stone • 28 Sep 2024 • ~3200 words • Archive Link

The article examines how the actions of politicians on both sides of the aisle have made the U.S.-Mexico border even more dangerous for asylum-seekers. It explores the violent crackdown by the Texas National Guard, the Biden administration's rightward turn on immigration policies, and the resulting surge in kidnappings, extortion, and other threats faced by migrants trying to reach the border.

By making it more difficult to cross the border, Texas gave organized crime groups an opportunity to capitalize on desperate people. The neighborhood surrounding International Marker 36, the gate where most people meet Border Patrol, became a hunting ground for local criminal operatives, lurking there to kidnap or extort migrants waiting at the riverbank for the right moment to cross.

Imagine More for Women

Los Angeles Review of Books • 28 Sep 2024 • ~2450 words

Caroline Reilly explores the distinct characteristics of Scandinavian noir fiction, particularly the nuanced portrayal of female characters and the integration of sociopolitical commentary. It examines how Scandinavian writers, in contrast to their English-language counterparts, imagine more complex and multifaceted narratives for women, tackling issues like gender equity, religion, and the human condition. The article also delves into the cultural and societal factors shaping the Scandinavian approach to crime fiction, offering insights into the genre's appeal and ability to captivate readers.

But in Scandinavia, writers imagine more for women. Rather than capitulating to tired tropes and exploiting the most common and deeply felt traumas—infidelity, infertility, sexual violence, mental illness—for gauche plot twists and shock value, Scandinavian noir tackles the nuances of womanhood in a way that stands in stark contrast to the sensationalized and scandalous context in which they often appear in English-language thrillers.

Washington DC is Not a Popularity Contest

The Scholar's Stage • 27 Sep 2024 • ~3150 words

This piece explores the unique dynamics of ambition in Washington, D.C., contrasting it with other major cities like Silicon Valley and New York. It argues that while cities like New York and Silicon Valley are defined by the pursuit of wealth and power, the primary ambition in Washington, D.C. is the desire for influence - the ability to shape the thinking and priorities of policymakers and decision-makers.

Yet access is not how D.C. insiders judge their own worth, nor the worth of their peers. The Washington ambitious are less interested in access than they are in influence. Access matters to them—but only so far as access translates to some tangible form of influence. Knowing the A-listers is rarely the end goal. The main thing is shaping how those A-listers think.

The 48 Hours Leading Up To An Execution

Webworm with David Farrier • 27 Sep 2024 • ~5600 words

David Farrier provides a firsthand account of the final hours before the scheduled execution of Marcellus Williams in Missouri. It explores the emotional landscape surrounding the death penalty, featuring voices from activists, legal experts, and the victim’s family, all grappling with the weight of a life on the line. It’s a compelling look at the complexities and moral dilemmas entwined in capital punishment.

From what I could tell, no one really wanted Marcellus to die — except one man who really wanted him to die: Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who’s pushed for Marcellus’ execution for as long as he’s been governor.

60 Years Ago, Congress Warned Us About the Surveillance State. What Happened?

The MIT Press Reader • 27 Sep 2024 • ~2950 words

This piece revisits a pivotal moment from the 1960s when Congress confronted the emerging threats of surveillance technology and government data collection. As we reflect on those early warnings, it’s striking to see how many of the concerns raised then resonate today, highlighting the complex relationship between privacy, technology, and personal freedom. The article also examines what happened in the decades that followed, questioning why the warnings went unheeded and how the solutions implemented ended up creating the very problems they were trying to prevent.

The focus on protecting public data from the perceived dangers of centralized state collection and storage blinded legislators to the problems created by the solution: putting data in the hands of private companies. Corporations ultimately filled the vacuum created by the National Data Bank’s failure, and became the chief custodians of U.S. citizens’ private data.

Some Country for Some Women

The New Inquiry • 26 Sep 2024 • ~3450 words

In this thought-provoking piece, the author explores the complex landscape of homesteading as both a nostalgic desire for self-sufficiency and a reflection of deeper societal issues, particularly around gender roles and capitalism. It examines how homesteading is presented on social media as an idealized pastoral lifestyle while also questioning the underlying capitalist and patriarchal structures that this movement upholds.

Yet despite her comprehensive retreat, not only from the workplace but also market pressures in general, the tradwife ironically becomes the ultimate capitalist subject by insisting that her labor is priceless. This dynamic is further complicated by the current wave of homesteading wives, many of whom enjoy profitable careers through social media, ironically by selling the idea of unpaid labor.