The Social Media Harms publication and website are dedicated to my sons and grandchildren.

My 17 year old son, Alex Peiser, died by suicide in October 2017. Mental health experts say that suicide is often the result of a cascade of negative experiences. From my interactions with other suicide loss survivors and their stories about their loved ones, I believe this to be true.

I also believe that Alex’s online interactions influenced the mental state that caused him to take his life.





It is my greatest wish that the harms from social media and other internet platforms are mitigated to ensure a safer online experience for everyone.

This can only be accomplished if research documenting harms is evaluated alongside the research that documents the positive aspects of online services.





I started Social Media Harms after watching the Center for Humane Technology's film, The Social Dilemma. Tech guru, Jaron Lanier, advised his readers in “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now” to drop their social media accounts and use that time to create their own blog and website (page 148)--and I did!

Having some background in IT and IT research, it was a great surprise to find in Jan 2021 that there were few studies available online by United States researchers that documented externalities caused by social media use. Fortunately, that situation has changed and readers will find many, many peer-reviewed studies in Social Media Harms lists today.

I currently have social media accounts with LinkedIn and have a paid YouTube Premium account. You will find a Social Media Harms account on Twitter. I found that I needed to establish that account to view articles, press conferences, etc. I would be happy to use a different platform if elected officials, government agencies and major media platforms decided to use different platforms or methods to disseminate their messages. I deleted my personal Twitter account in May 2020 due to doxxing and my Facebook account in December 2020. I still e-mail, text and call my friends--I found that I haven't missed anything--perhaps you will find that, too.

I am a member of the not-for-profit organization Fairplay, an organization that advocates for safer online platforms for children and teens. I also work with Fairplay’s Screentime Action Network.

It is not my intent to make an income from Social Media Harms. Social Media Harms does not have an online store, nor does it solicit donations. I am always looking for peer-reviewed research studies that document the externalities created by social media or other online platform use. If you have studies to share, please contact info@socialmediaharms.org.