No, HN is more like a forum. It doesn’t have dark patterns and addictive engineering built in, even if it could itself be addictive. There ‘s been functionality built in to limit time spent on HN for a long time. Look at noprocrast setting for example. Even if HN could be seen as social media it’s not in the same category of destructive social media a la Facebook/Instagram/Tiktok

I'd draw a line using some of these aspects:

- Algorithmic recommendation / "engagement" engineering

- Profit/business model

- Images/Videos

- Real-life identity

One of my main problems with all of this is "what counts as social media". It's a stupidly broad term. Email? SMS? Forums?

the approach australia took is a list of prohibited applications. It's not "fair" to a technically minded person, but it's a practical alternative, even if it would obviously lead to a whack-a-mole situation.