Social Media’s Hidden Toll on Kids

A recent court decision in California found that big tech firms, including the company behind Facebook and Instagram, can be held responsible for harming a young woman’s mental health. The case focused on how these platforms are built to keep users, especially children, hooked. In a separate trial in New Mexico, the same company was ordered to pay $375 million after it failed to protect children from online predators. Both rulings highlight a growing concern: social media may be more dangerous than we think, especially for teens. The California judgment used the word “addiction” to describe how these sites work. The judge compared them to old tobacco companies that trained people to become dependent on nicotine. Evidence presented included internal documents showing executives knew their products could be harmful. Features like autoplay videos were cited as reinforcing compulsive use.The inventor of the endless scroll, who helped create a key element of these platforms, testified that it now makes him feel sick. He warned that this design is a major problem for users of all ages. Despite repeated warnings about the risks, little has changed in many places. Some countries have banned children under 16 from social media, but the U. S. has not yet taken similar steps. The biggest hope for improvement may come from the pressure of legal battles and public scrutiny. Companies might need to redesign features that keep kids scrolling for hours and add stronger protections against bullying and exploitation. If these changes do not happen, the next wave of technology—especially artificial intelligence—could cause even greater harm. The famous motto “move fast and break things” should never mean harming children.