Worth separating the mechanism from the harm here. The research on addictive social media design points to algorithmic curation, variable-reward feeds, and engagement optimisation, not infinite scroll as a standalone feature. Discourse doesn’t have any of that. It’s a flat, chronological, near-completely unmanipulated list with no algorithm, no sponsored content, and no features designed to keep you scrolling. The scroll just replaces a ‘next page’ button.
The legal concerns you’re referencing apply to platforms deliberately engineering compulsive use. A dry topic list that happens to not have page numbers doesn’t meet that bar.