We log on to connect, to unwind, to learn. Yet, so often, we emerge from the digital thicket feeling drained, distracted, or vaguely inadequate. The "social media maze" isn't just a metaphor for complex privacy settings; it's a labyrinth of our own psychological triggers and meticulously engineered platform designs. Understanding the forces shaping our behavior within it is the first step to navigating it more consciously. At its core, much social media engagement operates on powerful psychological levers. The intermittent reinforcement of likes, comments, and shares acts like a digital slot machine, triggering dopamine hits that keep us compulsively checking for that next reward. We're wired for connection and validation, and platforms expertly exploit this, turning scrolling into a near-automatic habit. The endless, algorithmically-curated feed – designed for "stickiness" – capitalizes on our innate curiosity and fear of missing out (FOMO), making dise...