Chapter 1: Introduction to the Current Design Dilemma

Recently, I embarked on a personal experiment that revealed some troubling trends in advertising, particularly in the realm of mental health and ADHD treatment.

After witnessing the debacle with Threads, I decided to spend four minutes scrolling through my Instagram feed. Here’s what I encountered:

1. Eight ads for ADHD telemedicine startups promising quick prescriptions.
2. Alternatives to ADHD medication that are largely untested, purportedly addressing the Adderall shortage—likely fueled by profit-driven telemedicine firms.
3. A peculiar ad for OCD treatment that began with a woman asking, "How do you stop obsessing about him?"
4. Promotions for ketamine as a remedy for treatment-resistant depression.

Given that I frequently log into Instagram, it feels almost futile to engage with these ads.

Full Disclosure: I was diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager.

Let me pose a question: Have you ever seen someone without ADD/ADHD take stimulant medication? Are you aware of its effects on both children and adults who lack this diagnosis?

The reality is that these individuals often start to display prominent symptoms of ADHD, as the stimulants act like speed.

I firmly support the prescription of stimulants for those diagnosed with ADHD, of course. However, when someone is labeled repeatedly and surrounded by aggressive marketing, what do you think the outcome will be?

Currently, the United States is one of only two nations that permit pharmaceutical companies to market directly to consumers. It’s clear that companies like Meta exploit this system to the fullest.

I admit my own complicity in this issue—I once worked for the Sackler family, notorious for their role in the opioid crisis. Ironically, I came to work closely with them after Joss Sackler discovered my Instagram account and sought me as a creative director for her fashion brand. I was young and naive, unaware of the family's dark legacy.

Both the Sacklers and Zuckerberg share a common trait: their refusal to take responsibility for their actions. If you examine Zuckerberg’s past apologies from his time at Harvard, you’ll find that the language remains strikingly similar to his more recent attempts to express regret.

Back to my main point: it’s disheartening to observe designers squabbling over titles and years of experience while missing the significant impact that major tech companies have on society and the world at large.

I don’t see engineers lamenting the democratization of full-stack development.

With all due respect, it’s time to mature.

A Note: Feel free to search for me, but this is a pseudonym.

Happy Doom Scrolling!

Chapter 2: Distinguishing Important Issues from Trivial Disputes

In the grand scheme of things, the discussions surrounding design roles and software acquisitions seem trivial when weighed against the pressing social issues at hand.

The video titled "Stellar Blade - This Is Annoying" dives into the frustrations many feel with the current state of design, highlighting the distractions that often overshadow more serious topics.