A new study suggests that the fundamental structure of social media platforms makes it inherently difficult, if not impossible, to fix the issues plaguing them. Researchers argue that the mechanisms causing problems like misinformation, polarization, and addiction are deeply ingrained in the architecture of these platforms. This conclusion implies that surface-level solutions or minor adjustments are unlikely to produce meaningful, lasting improvements. The study points to a need for potentially radical changes to the core design principles of social media to address these systemic issues.