Is social media addictive? Has it harmed young people?
Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube will face those questions this year in a series of landmark trials.
What has been your experience on these platforms? Do you think the companies should be held responsible for the mental health struggles of young people?
In “What to Know About the Social Media Addiction Trials,” an article from Jan. 27, Cecilia Kang explains the court cases:
Beginning this week, the social media giants Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube will stand trial over claims their platforms are addictive and have harmed young users.
In a series of trials, the first of which will begin with jury selection Tuesday in a state court in Los Angeles, the plaintiffs’ lawyers are testing a novel legal theory claiming that the companies caused personal injury through defective products.
Thousands of individuals, school districts and state attorneys general have filed similar lawsuits. Just one win could open the door to an avalanche of similar claims.
Here is what the cases are about:
These cases test the argument that social media was built to be addictive, like cigarettes.
The lawsuits claim that social media features like infinite scrolling, algorithmic recommendations, notifications and videos that play automatically lead to compulsive use. The plaintiffs contend that the resulting addiction has led to problems like depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm, including suicide.
The cases have drawn comparisons to those against Big Tobacco in the 1990s, when companies like Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds were accused of hiding information about the harms of cigarettes.
This is how the companies plan to defend themselves:
Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube all argue that there is no clear scientific link between tech use and addiction and will insist there needs to be strong proof that their products significantly harmed young users.
The social media companies also plan to cite a federal shield law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, that protects them from liability for what their users post online.
Here is what’s at stake:
The plaintiffs are asking for monetary damages and potential design changes to the platforms to prevent addictive behavior.
It is unclear how much money a win by the plaintiffs could cost the companies, but it is likely to be significant. A win could also open the door to millions of other claims by social media users.
If the companies are forced to make changes to their products, it could harm their broader business models.
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
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What is your reaction to this series of lawsuits from teenagers, school districts and states against social media companies?
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What has been your experience on social media? Do you relate to any of the claims plaintiffs have made about how features — such as infinite scrolling, algorithmic recommendations, notifications and videos that play automatically — make logging off difficult? Have you or people you know experienced any negative effects from spending time on social media?
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To what degree do you think social media companies should be held responsible for the harms their products may cause? The cases have drawn comparisons to those against the largest tobacco companies in the 1990s. The plaintiffs argue that, like cigarettes, social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and that companies are hiding information about the dangers of their products. Do you think that is a fair comparison? Why or why not?
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Would you like to see a jury rule in favor of the plaintiffs or the social media companies in these trials? Why?
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How do you think social media would change for your generation if a jury decides these platforms are addictive and damaging to teenagers’ mental health? Would you welcome these changes? Why or why not?
Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.
Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.
Natalie Proulx is an editor at The Learning Network, a Times free teaching resource.
The post Should Social Media Companies Be Held Responsible for Teens’ Mental Health Struggles? appeared first on New York Times.
