These tech execs have regrets about the world-changing sites they helped create

James Cridland/Flickr

• An increasing number of tech executives are speaking up about the harm that social media sites can do to civil society.
• The social psychology research on social media's effects on users is new and limited, but some studies suggest that the sites can lead to behavioral addictions.
• Execs including Snap CEO Evan Spiegel say that social media can also easily sway elections, contribute to depression, and impede civil discourse.

If you're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap, or Reddit, you've likely noticed that those notifications, likes, and upvotes can be quite addicting.

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This is on purpose. Social media companies want people to keep coming back to their sites, so developers will often design apps in ways that encourage engagement. Some social psychology research (albeit early and new) suggests that excessive social media use can lead to behavioral addictions, meaning users spend hours tethered to their screens.

And even those behind these apps admit that social media can be bad for people. Earlier this month, former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya said that the site does not promote civil discourse and is "ripping apart the social fabric of how society works."

He also argued that consequences can go past individual addiction to larger issues, like partisan echo chambers and fake news.

Palihapitiya is not the only one who has recently spoken up about the harm that social media can do. The following tech execs also have regrets about the tools they helped create.