A landmark court case involving Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is underway, which addresses the issue of social media addiction in children and teens. Specifically, four major social media companies are being sued for intentionally designing platforms to be addictive to minors, despite known mental health risks. The plaintiff is a 20-year-old female who claims she suffered anxiety, depression, and other mental health effects as a teen, resulting from social media use.[1]
This case is being followed closely because it may set a precedent that affects the outcome of over 1200 other pending civil cases. Some mental health advocates are hopeful that a victory would help to hold social media companies accountable for adding safeguards that will help discourage compulsive use in children and teens. [1]
Youth social media addiction lawsuit: Why social media companies are being sued
The current case against social media companies alleges that they have intentionally designed their platforms to draw in young users, despite knowing this could lead to addiction and mental health issues. [1]
Former Facebook data analyst Frances Haugen first blew the whistle in 2021 when she went to the press with insider information about the ways Facebook and similar platforms target teen users. She alleged that Facebook was made aware of the negative impacts of social media use on teenagers and failed to adopt recommendations that would help discourage compulsive use. Based partly on this insider information, the current lawsuit argues that social media companies have intentionally designed their platforms to be addictive to teens, despite known mental health risks. [2]
While past lawsuits have attempted to hold social media companies accountable, they have been struck down because they have focused on specific content, rather than on algorithmic design. This has allowed social media companies to avoid liability by claiming that they are not responsible for the content posted on their platforms, since content is uploaded by individual users. By focusing on the architecture of the platform rather than on content, social media companies will not be able to invoke the protections of Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, which has been pivotal in protecting them from liability in past cases. [1][2][3]
Addictive design of social media
There have been a number of prior lawsuits that have attempted to hold social media companies liable for the harm their products cause to individual users. Historically, social media companies have been able to deny responsibility in these cases by arguing that they are not responsible for what individual users post on their platforms. [1][3]
This current civil case differs because, instead of seeking damages based on specific content, the plaintiff is alleging that the companies have intentionally designed their platforms in ways that are addictive. Features like targeted ads, personalized content, endless scrolling, and algorithmic tracking are all designed to capture and hold the attention of the user. These are some of the features that are commonly cited as being part of the ‘addictive design’ of social media feeds. [1][4][5]
Implications of the social media addiction lawsuit
The current case involving 20-year-old plaintiff Kaley and her mother involves four major social media platforms: Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok. The civil case has drawn national attention because it could have a significant impact on future cases, including influencing over 1200 pending civil cases with similar allegations. This case could set a precedent that makes it more likely that social media companies could be held responsible for the ways their platforms have harmed users, specifically children and teens. [1][2]
Some advocates are hopeful that a win in this case would pave the way for more accountability among the owners of social media companies. This may place pressure on social media companies to design their platforms more responsibly, including adding warnings or features to discourage excessive use. Some are comparing this case to similar cases against the tobacco industry that resulted in important policy changes and a public health campaign to discourage smoking. [1]
Is social media addictive?
Social media addiction is becoming a more commonly debated topic in public health. While there is no officially recognized diagnosis for it, more and more individuals are reporting that they have become addicted to social media. Children and young people appear to be the most vulnerable, with many reporting significant consequences to their mental health, social relationships, and ability to function. An estimated 5-20% of teens report struggling with social media addiction, making this a commonly reported problem. [5]
Many of the reports from individuals who struggle with compulsive social media use are similar to those of people with substance addictions, including: [4][5]
- Excessive time spent on social media & spending more time than intended.
- Reduced participation in other social and recreational activities because of social media.
- Inability to fulfill major responsibilities at school or work because of use.
- Compulsive urges to check notifications, scroll, or view new content.
- Negative impacts on social relationships and real-world social interactions.
- Continued use despite known negative impacts on mental health.
- Unsuccessful efforts to cut back, stop, or moderate use.
Social media use and teen mental health
Social media use can have negative effects on mental health, particularly in heavy users who spend multiple hours per day on the platforms. Children, teens, and young people seem to be particularly vulnerable to the negative mental health effects of social media use. While different studies have reached slightly different conclusions, most agree that excessive social media use increases the risk for common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. [4][5]
Other research has found that teens who use social media excessively are more socially isolated and lonely, compared to peers who have more restricted or limited access. Self-esteem issues in teens can also be exacerbated by social media, which tends to display unrealistic or idealized standards that teens compare themselves to. Social media trends can also have a detrimental effect on teens, who may be more likely to engage in behavior that is dangerous or unhealthy when they see it go viral online. [4][5]
Advice for parents
Supervising children and teens today is much more challenging, as supervision needs to be extended to online spaces. Many parents may not be aware of what their child is doing online, who they are talking to, or what kind of content they are viewing and posting on social media. Parents may not know where to begin when implementing online supervision and digital safety protocols in their home.
Here are some suggestions for how to supervise your child’s online activity and help them develop healthy habits with their devices:[5]
- Limit access to devices by setting guidelines, restrictions, and ‘off-limits’ hours for tablets, laptops, and cell phones.
- Utilize parental controls to filter certain content or restrict access to certain websites, content, and apps.
- Monitor any social media accounts by signing up, creating an account, and following your child to see what they are posting.
- Foster open conversations with your child or teen about online behavior, social media, and ways to use devices more intentionally in ways that benefit them.
- Educate your child about how to stay safe online by not talking to strangers or giving out personal information or location information.
- Watch out for warning signs of excessive use or negative impacts on their mental health, and take action to restrict use when you are concerned.
- Model healthy digital habits and online behavior by not excessively using your devices and creating healthy offline routines.
Final thoughts
The current social media addiction lawsuit is being followed closely because it addresses hot-button topics like social media addiction and negative mental health effects in teens. If the plaintiff wins this case, it will likely set off a chain reaction that will affect thousands of similar cases against social media companies. It is possible that this could result in increased accountability on social media companies, leading to reforms and policy changes that will address growing concerns about social media addiction and harm in children and teens. [1]
