Is Social Media Addictive?

"Meta and Google have been accused of creating "addiction machines" in a Los Angeles jury trial. The 20-year-old plaintiff claims that social media design features contributed to her mental health challenges."

"As 1,500 similar lawsuits await the outcome in L.A., a number of countries are moving to ban social platforms for under-16s, indicating a broader regulatory response to concerns about social media's effects on young users."

A Los Angeles jury trial accuses Meta and Google of deliberately designing social media platforms as "addiction machines" through specific features engineered to maximize user engagement. A 20-year-old plaintiff alleges these design mechanisms directly contributed to her mental health deterioration. The case represents a broader legal movement, with approximately 1,500 comparable lawsuits pending in Los Angeles awaiting resolution. Simultaneously, multiple countries are implementing regulatory responses by proposing or enacting bans on social media platform access for users under 16 years old, reflecting growing international concern about social media's impact on youth mental health and development.

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