Meta's Defense In Social Media Addiction Trial Is Basically A Shrug | Defector

"This trial has been called social media's "Big Tobacco moment": More than 1,500 similar lawsuits will rely on its outcome. If found guilty, YouTube and Meta could potentially pay billions in damages and be forced to make radical changes to how their platforms work."

"The case hinges on how the jury will decide to define addiction, and whether the tech companies, in their pursuit of making their platforms "sticky," crossed the line into harmful habit formation and neglected to adequately safeguard minors."

"Meta is arguing that there is a difference between "problematic" and "clinically addictive" usage, and that the company and Zuckerberg are not responsible for negative mental health outcomes produced or exacerbated by extreme use of their platforms."

Mark Zuckerberg testified in a California courtroom regarding allegations that Meta and YouTube deliberately designed addictive platforms harmful to young users. The case involves a 20-year-old woman claiming Instagram and YouTube addiction degraded her mental health. Meta argues the distinction between problematic and clinically addictive usage, denying responsibility for negative outcomes. YouTube contends it is not a social media platform despite recent short-form video features. The trial, termed social media's "Big Tobacco moment," will influence over 1,500 pending lawsuits. Potential outcomes include billions in damages and mandatory platform changes. The jury must determine whether tech companies prioritized engagement over minor safety.

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