Technology exposes us to limitless possibilities—from parenting styles to body modifications. This creates a pervasive insecurity and a 'rabid delusion of endless craving.' The constant awareness of what others are doing or have drives a pathological need to keep up, leading to profound consumerism and dissatisfaction.

The internet's evolution from social networking (connecting with friends) to social media (broadcasting to followers) destroyed a valuable product category. This shift replaced genuine intimacy with performance, contributing to a global rise in loneliness and isolation as people stare at screens instead of connecting.

The loss of unifying religious morality created an initial societal void. Social media then amplified this by exposing people to a tsunami of viewpoints, resulting in an 'infinite fracturing of frame of reference' and the creation of countless micro-tribes that erode social cohesion.

The erosion of trusted, centralized news sources by social media creates an information vacuum. This forces people into a state of 'conspiracy brain,' where they either distrust all information or create flawed connections between unverified data points.

Extreme online subcultures, however small, function as 'existence proofs.' They demonstrate what is possible when a generation is severed from historical context and tradition, connected only by algorithms and pornography. They are a warning sign of the potential outcomes of our current digital environment.

Before generative AI, the simple algorithms optimizing newsfeeds for engagement acted as a powerful, yet misaligned, "baby AI." This narrow system, pointed at the human brain, was potent enough to create widespread anxiety, depression, and polarization by prioritizing attention over well-being.

The argument that the US must race China on AI without regulation ignores the lesson of social media. The US achieved technological dominance with platforms like Facebook, but the result was a more anxious, polarized, and less resilient society—a Pyrrhic victory.

The medium dictates the message. Early blogging platforms, with their emphasis on linking and long-form text, fostered a culture of idea exploration. In contrast, Twitter's short, meme-heavy format inherently promotes conflict, one-upmanship, and extremism, fundamentally changing the nature of online discourse.

Before ChatGPT, humanity's "first contact" with rogue AI was social media. These simple, narrow AIs optimizing solely for engagement were powerful enough to degrade mental health and democracy. This "baby AI" serves as a stark warning for the societal impact of more advanced, general AI systems.