If you prefer text, Elizabeth Nolan Brown has that for you at Reason: #Addiction.
It begins: anyone who's ever spent too much time on social media—or simply suffered any setbacks while simultaneously having social media accounts—can claim "addiction" and reasonably expect a big payout. A landmark verdict in California has paved the way for that, and worse.
After nearly two months of trial, a jury on Wednesday decided that Meta and Google are liable—to the tune of $6 million—for the psychological troubles plaguing now 20-year-old Kaley G.M.
In a civil suit, Kaley claimed that addiction to YouTube and other online platforms when she was a minor led to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. She originally sued four tech companies—Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snap—but the latter two settled before trial.
ENB showcases multiple reasons why this is a bad turn of events. Including a tweet from Taylor Lorenz (who's occasionally mentioned here. not always favorably, but seems to make a good point in this case):
Her mother beat her, abused her, weighed her daily, called her fat, her sister tried to take her own life and her father abandoned her. Yet none of that apparently led to this poor girl’s anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia, it was lip gloss review videos on youtube https://t.co/g8mBUwUym2
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) March 25, 2026
… while Nico Perrino and Will Creely concentrate on the danger this case poses for First Amendment rights:
As Will points out below, the president of the United States is in court RIGHT NOW trying to recast speech as a product in order to sidestep the strictures of the First Amendment and punish his perceived critics.
— Nico Perrino (@NicoPerrino) March 25, 2026
Beware this dangerous path! https://t.co/z53bJSDizs
Disclosure: I wouldn't say I've become addicted, but I really do spend way too much time in the "Reels" section of my Facebook feed. Zuck's AI has apparently figured out that I'm a sucker for videos with varying combinations of toddlers, puppies, kittens, AI slop, SNL sketches, and Philomena Cunk.
I'll give you a topic, discuss among yourselves: If Tina Fey can host an episode of Saturday Night Live UK, why can't Diane Morgan host America's version?
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