When apps destroy more than they connect
In the US, the first major class action lawsuit against the tech giants has begun: Meta (Facebook & Instagram) and Alphabet (YouTube) are on trial in Los Angeles. The accusation? Their platforms are said to be making young people ill.
Specifically, it concerns a 19-year-old who suffers from anxiety disorders and depression—and blames social media for this. And she is not an isolated case. Grace Go, now in her early 20s, said quite openly on US television: "The algorithm sucked me in." For her, this led to a dramatic result: an eating disorder.
What was previously treated as one social problem among many is now ending up in court. And with full force.
Addiction is no coincidence—it's systematic
Mental health issues among young people have been on the rise for years. Many experts see a clear link to social media. The problem is not only what can be seen there, but how it is presented.
Persistent stimuli, automatic video starts, infinite scrolling, personalized suggestions: everything in the app is designed to keep users hooked. And according to lawyers representing those affected, this is not a side effect, but intentional.
Psychiatry professor Vahibav Diwadkar explains it this way: "The problem with social media is that it exploits certain addiction mechanisms in the brain that cause people to constantly search for something new."
If the design of apps is specifically programmed for maximum usage time, this could be more than just clever marketing—it could contribute to real health problems.
Thousands of lawsuits – and one trial that could change everything
Thousands of lawsuits are now pending in the US, filed by parents, school districts, and states. All of them make the same accusation: the platforms promote mental illness among young people—and do too little to combat it.
Because so many lawsuits have been filed, some of them have been bundled together into test cases. The idea is that a few exemplary cases will show how judges and juries rule. Depending on the outcome of the trials, this could cost billions—or stifle the entire debate.
Some companies, such as TikTok (Bytedance) and Snapchat (Snap), have already reached settlements, although the exact amounts have not been disclosed. They are therefore no longer facing trial in the first proceedings—but they could reappear in later ones.
Comment: Social media as a legal dealer?
The issue is uncomfortable—and urgently necessary. The corporations' defense that they are "committed to safety" seems cynical in light of the increasing mental health problems among young people. If the business model is based on making users addicted, then it should come as no surprise when this eventually has consequences.
Perhaps this process is the first serious attempt to transform digital irresponsibility into real responsibility. And it's about time. Social media is no longer just a fun pastime—for many young people, it's a risk factor. If the justice system recognizes this now, it wouldn't be a wave of lawsuits. It would be a wake-up call.
Source: tagesschau.de
