Now at the Journal of Libertarian Studies.
Abstract
This article explores the growing trend of state regulation targeting social media addiction among young people, offering a libertarian assessment of its legitimacy, consequences, and alternatives. The article introduces the concept of state primary socialization indoctrination, a novel contribution to Austro-libertarian literature, to describe how the state conditions citizens in the earlier part of their lives (from day care to university)—through education, media, and crisis management—to accept interventionist authority as natural. Drawing from Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, and Friedrich Hayek, the article critiques international regulatory responses—specifically those of China, the US, Spain, Australia, and South Korea—highlighting their impact on individual autonomy, parental authority, and economic efficiency. It argues that overregulation fosters dependence, erodes family responsibility, and imposes significant social and financial costs. In place of coercive mandates, the article advocates for voluntary solutions rooted in parental guidance, market innovation, and decentralized education. By grounding the debate in libertarian ethics and praxeology, it offers an alternative framework for addressing digital addiction while preserving freedom and personal responsibility.
Read the full article at the Journal of Libertarian Studies.
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