Tag

Social Media Addiction

All articles tagged with #social media addiction

technology7 days ago•3 min saved

Meta in Court Over Alleged Addictive Design Targeting Youth

A California trial pits 29 state attorneys general against Meta, accusing Facebook and Instagram of being intentionally addictive to children and improperly collecting their data; the case seeks age restrictions and the removal of features like infinite scroll, with penalties potentially in the hundreds of billions of dollars; Meta defends its safety protections, cites unsubstantiated claims, and will face testimony from executives such as Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, in the context of broader youth-safety lawsuits and prior related verdicts against Meta and Google.

via PYMNTS.com|

#facebook #instagram #meta

technology3 months ago•3 min saved

Meta settles Kentucky school district case over alleged addictive design in social apps

Meta reached a confidential settlement with a Kentucky school district over claims its platforms are designed to be addictive and harm students, part of a broader MDL with about 1,200 districts against Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube. Other platforms have settled similar claims, and remaining trials are set for July (California state and Tennessee federal cases) with another school-district case in January 2027. Earlier rulings in Los Angeles and New Mexico found Meta and YouTube liable for harm to youths, underscoring the wave of legal actions targeting social-media design.

via The Guardian|

#bellwether-trials #kentucky-school-district #meta

technology4 months ago•3 min saved

Meta clamps down on ads recruiting for social-media addiction lawsuits

Meta removed ads by law firms recruiting clients for social-media-addiction lawsuits on Facebook and Instagram after recent court losses, with some ads deactivated though others remain visible in the Ad Library. Meta says it won’t allow trial lawyers to profit from its platforms while claims of harm persist, while firms argue the move censors victims and stifles accountability.

via BBC|

#advertising #facebook #lawsuits

technology5 months ago•308 min saved

Jury Finds Meta and Google Liable in Landmark Social Media Harm Verdict

A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable in a civil suit alleging social-media platforms addict youth and harm mental health. The verdict is hailed by critics as a pivotal moment of accountability, likened to a ‘Big Tobacco moment,’ and could spur federal safeguards like the Kids Online Safety Act, though both companies say they will appeal.

via CNN|

#big-tech-accountability #court-verdict #kids-online-safety-act

policy5 months ago•88 min saved

Grieving families confront Zuckerberg as social-media addiction trial unfolds

Outside a Los Angeles courthouse, grieving parents waited as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg prepared to testify in a bellwether case accusing social platforms of addictive design; Kaley’s suit against Meta and Google could influence thousands of similar cases and push for online-safety safeguards, with jurors weighing negligence and damages under Section 230.

via The Verge|

#kaley #policy #social-media-addiction

technology5 months ago•6 min saved

Meta’s Courtroom Shrug on Addiction Sparks Debate

Mark Zuckerberg testified for five hours in a California bellwether case denying Meta deliberately designed its platforms to be addictive; the trial questions whether social-media addiction is real and if Meta and YouTube crossed legal lines, with potential for billions in damages and major platform overhauls. Prosecutors point to internal docs suggesting goals to increase time spent, while Meta argues safeguards and differentiates between problematic use and clinical addiction, making the outcome a landmark for tech accountability.

via Defector|

#kaley #meta #social-media-addiction

technology6 months ago•20 min saved

Young Woman's Testimony Fuels Landmark Case on Social Media Addiction

In a landmark Los Angeles trial, a young woman testifies that early and heavy use of social media—especially Instagram—contributed to addiction, worsened her depression, and intensified suicidal thoughts, as the case questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately harm children and seeks accountability for the tech giants' design choices; executives like Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri face tough questions about safety and authenticity in their products.

via AP News|

#court-case #instagram #meta

technology6 months ago•346 min saved

Bellwether Trial Could Redraw Social Media’s Legal Boundaries

A landmark bellwether case accusing Meta and YouTube of engineering addictive social platforms that harmed a young user could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits and spark broader online-safety reforms. With Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg testifying and plaintiffs citing internal documents about preteen use and scrolling time, the trial echoes Big Tobacco-era litigation while the companies dispute causation and highlight safety features. The outcome may steer future cases and regulatory scrutiny across the tech industry.

via CNN|

#bellwether-trial #kaley-case #meta

technology6 months ago•9 min saved

Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Social-Media Addiction Case, Sticks to Safe Script

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a high‑profile Los Angeles bellwether case accusing Facebook and Instagram of being designed to be addictive and targeting teens. He offered guarded, rehearsed answers and insisted the platforms provide value rather than pursuing excessive engagement, while plaintiffs cited internal documents suggesting goals to maximize usage and minutes spent. A large Instagram post tarp used as evidence underscored the stakes as the trial—one of roughly 1,600 similar suits—could influence liability standards for tech platforms and debates over content moderation and youth safety.

via WIRED|

#instagram #mark-zuckerberg #meta

technology6 months ago•10 min saved

Internal memos brand Instagram 'a drug' as Meta faces pivotal social-media addiction trial

A high-stakes bellwether trial accuses Meta, YouTube and others of designing addictive features that harmed a minor; internal memos—including an 'IG is a drug' line—surface as the case tests causation, potentially paving billions in damages and broad platform-safety changes if the jury links harm to design rather than content.

via Ars Technica|

#court-trial #instagram #internal-documents

legal7 months ago•28 min saved

Lawsuits Claim Social Apps Fuel Youth Addiction

Open class-action lawsuits accuse major social media platforms—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat—of engineering features to maximize engagement, contributing to depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia and other mental-health harms in minors. Eligible claimants are individuals who started using social media between ages 8 and 18, are now 25 or younger, used these apps for 3+ hours daily, and have sought treatment for related conditions; the actions are led by Wagstaff & Cartmell and LegaFi Law, inviting affected people to join by submitting information to verify eligibility.

via Class Action Lawsuits|

#class-action #instagram #legal

technology7 months ago•3 min saved

Brick Gadget: The $59 Solution to Reduce Screen Time

Anneta Konstantinides reviews Brick, a $59 physical device that helps reduce phone screen time by requiring users to tap their phone on it to unblock apps, which has significantly helped her cut down on social media use and improve productivity.

via Business Insider|

#brick-gadget #distraction-blocker #phone-apps

world1 year ago•0 min saved

Managing Kids' Screen Time: Challenges and Solutions

The article discusses the widespread issue of social media addiction among children and the lack of consensus on how to address it, highlighting concerns about its impact on mental health and development.

via politico.eu|

#kids #mental-health #parenting

technology1 year ago•8 min saved

The Rise of AI-Generated Content and Its Impact on Our Digital Lives

The article discusses how short-form videos, especially on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, are increasingly dominated by AI-generated 'slop' content that is designed to maximize user engagement and ad revenue, leading to negative effects such as reduced attention spans, increased anxiety, and digital overload. It highlights the rise of AI tools that make content creation easier, the manipulative design of these platforms, and offers tips to mitigate their impact, emphasizing the importance of being intentional with media consumption.

via vox.com|

#ai-generated-content #attention-span #short-form-videos

businesslegal2 years ago•2 min saved

"Zuckerberg's Bid to Dodge Personal Liability in Instagram Addiction Lawsuits"

Mark Zuckerberg is seeking to be dropped from two dozen lawsuits alleging that his actions and Meta's have caused social media addiction in children, arguing that individuals cannot be held personally liable for corporate acts. His legal team contends that there is a clear distinction between his personal liability and his role as CEO, and that executives are typically shielded from personal liability in corporate law. However, if it's determined that Meta had a duty to disclose information related to social media risks for kids, the CEO could potentially be held liable for concealing it, which could have implications for other lawsuits against social media giants' CEOs.

via Business Insider|

#businesslegal #lawsuits #mark-zuckerberg