Ever felt like you’re addicted to doomscrolling? It might not be your fault. A lawsuit is claiming that Meta deliberately made their platforms addictive, especially to young people, who were harmed as a result.
Results of Meta’s own internal research reported that “young people are acutely aware that Instagram can be bad for their mental health, yet are compelled to spend time on the app for fear of missing out on cultural and social trends” – but features such as infinite scrolling and constant notifications keep users on their phones.
This week, a huge trial beginning in the US, expected to last between six and eight weeks, is laying out the accusations against Meta. It is just the latest in a rising tide of lawsuits faced by the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. Meta denies the accusations.
In this video, we take a closer look at the case – and how this could be social media’s “big tobacco” moment.
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