Los Angeles – A landmark trial examining the potential harms of social media on young people is underway in Los Angeles, though proceedings have been temporarily paused due to illness affecting Meta’s senior attorney. The case, frequently referred to as the “social media addiction trials,” centers on allegations that Meta, YouTube, Snap Inc, and TikTok deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive, contributing to mental health issues in children and adolescents. While TikTok and Snap Inc have already settled with the plaintiffs, Meta and YouTube are contesting the claims.
The lawsuit was brought by a woman identified as KGM, now approximately 20 years old, who alleges that her extensive use of social media from a young age led to addiction, depression, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation. The plaintiffs’ cases do not solely rely on the concept of addiction, but rather frame it as a precursor to more severe harms.
Google, the parent company of YouTube, maintains its innocence, stating that “Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work… The allegations in these complaints are simply not true.” Meta echoed this sentiment, asserting, “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” TikTok and Snap Inc did not respond to requests for comment.
The core question at the heart of the trial – whether social media platforms are truly addictive – remains a subject of scientific debate. Experts are increasingly moving away from the term “addiction” preferring terms like “problematic use” or “use disorders.” Ofir Turel, a professor of information systems management at the University of Melbourne, noted the overuse of the term, stating, “Everybody is saying, ‘I’m addicted,’ like it’s not a medical term. And What we have is where things become murky.” Dr. Jessica Schleider, a clinical psychologist at Northwestern University, described the issue as “an incredibly complicated and also hot-button issue among scientists.”
The lawsuits allege that social media companies employed techniques borrowed from industries known for creating addictive products, such as slot machines and the tobacco industry. These techniques include features designed to maximize user engagement, such as endless scrolling, algorithmic amplification of content, and social comparison metrics. Schleider acknowledged these features are “built to keep people there. They’re not neutral. They shape attention, emotion and behavior,” but stopped short of definitively labeling them addictive.
Research suggests a correlation between social media use and mental health outcomes, but Schleider cautioned that the relationship is complex and potentially “bidirectional,” meaning that pre-existing mental health challenges could also contribute to increased social media use. She also noted that the average negative impact of social media on mental health, as demonstrated in large-scale studies, is relatively small. However, she conceded that individual harms could be more severe and that plaintiffs may be able to demonstrate direct harm caused by the platforms.
Allegations have surfaced that Meta attempted to suppress research indicating a link between pausing Facebook use and improvements in users’ mental well-being. According to court filings, Meta allegedly buried findings from a study conducted in collaboration with Nielsen that showed temporary cessation of Facebook use alleviated feelings of depression, loneliness, and anxiety. A Meta spokesperson claimed the research was discontinued because the observed improvements were attributed to the placebo effect. The American Psychological Association also criticized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for selectively citing data from a Meta report to downplay the potential negative impacts of social media on mental health.
Turel’s brain-imaging research has revealed similarities between excessive social media use and excessive gambling, both of which activate the brain’s reward system. Gambling disorder is currently the only behavioral disorder recognized as an addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Social media companies have been accused of exploiting the principle of “intermittent reinforcement” – a technique also used in gambling – to keep users engaged.
Turel distinguished between different “flavors” of addiction, emphasizing the importance of understanding the impact on both the brain’s reward system (the “accelerator”) and its self-control system (the “brakes”). While substance addictions can cause lasting damage to both systems, behavioral addictions like problematic social media use may primarily affect the reward system, with the potential for recovery over time. Withdrawal symptoms from behavioral addictions are also generally less severe than those associated with substance abuse.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using the term “problematic use” when discussing social media, acknowledging both its potential harms and benefits, such as information sharing and social connection. Despite the reluctance to label social media as addictive, numerous scientific academies and organizations recognize its potential to be harmful, particularly to developing adolescent brains, and are calling for increased regulation.
The current legal battle echoes past litigation against the tobacco industry, where initial scientific consensus on the harms of smoking was lacking. As with the tobacco companies, allegations have emerged that social media firms have attempted to influence research findings in their favor. Turel believes the current situation is similar, stating, “Social media is much more than an addictive machine. It has many other issues, with fake news, with cyberbullying and body image. And we are becoming aware of them and trying to control them.”
