ADDICTIVE APP FEATURES
EU to make addictive app features easier to switch off
The European Union will on Wednesday unveil new rules to crack down on influencer marketing, ban online features that trick Europeans and force platforms to give users the right to turn off "addictive" features.
Google sued over suicide-related AI chats on school computer
The parents of a 13-year-old girl have sued Google claiming she planned a potential suicide and funeral using its AI technology on a school-issued computer. Developers of fast-evolving AI technology are facing a litany of similar lawsuits in the US. OpenAI faces several wrongful death suits, including from the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, a teenager who committed suicide allegedly using methods advised by ChatGPT. Google and the startup Character.
Does Snapchat cause depression, anxiety, eating disorders? A court trial that tells bold story against social media platforms
Social media companies face thousands of lawsuits in federal and state courts brought by individuals, school districts, municipalities and other government entities alleging the companies knowingly sought to addict children to their platforms.
Meta settles with teen during trial testing claims social media caused depression, eating disorders
Meta Platforms has settled with a teen plaintiff who accused the company of designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive, causing her mental health problems
Rhode Island sues Meta over alleged tolerance for scam advertising
The suit, filed by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha in Providence Superior Court, accuses Meta of unlawfully profiting from and participating in the creation of billions of dollars in scam advertising - even as it assured its billions of users that it was working diligently to protect them.
Saif Ali Khan once admitted he doesn't enjoy social media. 2 years later, he officially joins Instagram. His first post is pure Pataudi-coded
Making waves in the digital sphere, Saif Ali Khan has finally joined Instagram, despite earlier reservations about social media. His first post features a snapshot in his library, accompanied by a witty caption, 'Pataudi Library. Judging books by their cover.' Previously, Saif admitted to having a private account due to social media's distracting nature but relishes the freedom from promotional pressures.
- Go To Page 1
Florida asks court to force Meta to change Facebook, Instagram for teens
In a filing in a Pasco County court, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asked for a temporary injunction forcing Meta to identify and remove users in the state under the age of 14 from those platforms, limit teens there to two hours a day across all apps and turn off features like autoplay and infinite scroll for them.
Florida asks court to force Meta to change Facebook, Instagram for teens
Florida is advancing a lawsuit against Meta Platforms to enforce stricter protections for young users. The Attorney General seeks changes including limiting teen app usage and identifying underage users. Meta previously settled claims with other states, including changes for teen safety. Florida argues that the settlement was insufficient and will not prevent future harm. The proposed changes from Florida are stricter compared to those agreed upon in the settlement.
Lessons from Chinese AI Firms on Owning Customers’ Habits
As U.S. AI firms compete in an escalating race for superior models, bigger benchmarks, and more advanced features, Chinese companies are pursuing a fundamentally different strategy: embedding AI into users’ everyday habits. The authors argue that this “habit moat” approach may prove more durable than competing on raw capability alone. Whereas Western firms position AI as a destination consumers consciously visit, companies like Alibaba integrate AI into existing routines such as shopping, payments, food delivery, and travel booking, reducing friction until using AI becomes automatic behavior. Once AI capabilities become “good enough,” marginal technical improvements matter less than becoming the default path through recurring customer tasks. The authors outline four strategic imperatives for Western leaders: focus on behavioral cues rather than feature gaps, subsidize customer behavior instead of subscriptions, embed AI invisibly into existing workflows, and optimize for repeat usage rather than first-time adoption. The central warning is stark: AI may not replace employees first—it may instead capture the critical customer moments businesses currently own.
TikTok agrees to teen limits in US settlement following Meta
A trial had been set to begin Monday in the southern US state over claims by Alabama that TikTok misled parents about tools meant to shield children from harmful content.
Indian woman loses iPhone in Japan, what happens next leaves her amazed
An Indian woman living in Japan said she recovered her iPhone 16 Pro after accidentally leaving it behind for several hours. Pragati used Apple’s Find My feature to track the device to a location around 600 metres away and eventually found it. She said the incident marked the fifth time she had recovered a misplaced phone in Japan, prompting reactions online.
Delhi HC asks govt if it is contemplating policy to regulate addiction causing features on social media apps
The Delhi High Court sought the Centre's stance on regulating social media's addictive design elements. The court questioned if a policy is being considered for features like infinite scroll. A public interest litigation highlights concerns about engagement-maximising design on these platforms. The petition points to potential links between social media use and adolescent mental health issues. The court will hear the matter again after three weeks for further deliberation.
EU chief to unveil social media, gaming curbs for under-15s
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will on Wednesday unveil long-awaited plans to protect children from online harm by curbing access to social media, video-sharing platforms, games and AI chatbots for under-15s. Von der Leyen will use her annual keynote speech to the European Parliament to outline new EU legislation, which according to a draft document will set strict limits on access to social media, AI chatbots and online gaming for under-15s.
Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Ressa
The Filipino and American journalist, who jointly won the 2021 award in part for her work documenting the power of large tech companies, serves as co-chair of the United Nations' international scientific panel on artificial intelligence, tasked with assessing how AI is transforming lives worldwide.
Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Maria Ressa
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa expresses urgent concerns about the risks that artificial intelligence poses to human agency, emphasizing the need for immediate regulation. She encourages citizens to drive legislative changes aimed at holding tech corporations accountable. Ressa outlines AI's progression through social media and manipulation, and highlights the importance of creating platforms that serve the public interest, along with ensuring tech firms face consequences for harm caused.
Crypto's shopping hack; Centre eyes Meta child safeguards
Indians are buying groceries, fuel, food and gold via gift cards on overseas crypto platforms. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.
Proposed Australian law would let social media users opt out of algorithms
The proposed legislation would also protect children from content that promotes eating disorders, hostile ideas about women, pornography, crime, dangerous stunts and that causes serious mental health distress.
Dream11 completes pivot, no longer a gaming app
Dream11 has shifted to a global sports engagement platform, discontinuing all prizes. This move follows India's 2025 Online Gaming Act banning real-money games. The company now focuses on content, streaming, and community features for users. This transition impacts its sponsorship deals, including with the BCCI. Dream11 aims to offer personalized, multi-sport content to a worldwide audience.
Time limits to midnight cutoff: What Meta's $18 billion deal changes for teens
Meta Platforms agreed to a significant $18 billion settlement with 48 US states. This historic deal mandates substantial changes to protect younger users on its platforms. New rules will limit daily usage and restrict access during nighttime hours for minors. Meta will also enhance its age verification technology to better identify underage users. These forthcoming changes aim to improve child safety across Instagram and Facebook.
Meta settlement opens new front in global fight over social media harm
Meta's up to $18 billion settlement with nearly 50 US states over social media harm to teenagers has opened a new front in a global government fight to protect children and curb addiction to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Meta more cautious on CSAM after unequivocal govt message; action visible: IT Ministry sources
Sources said the government's intent is not censorship or restricting coverage in any way, but ensuring Indian laws and norms are followed and that social media harms are mitigated. Meta explained how its algorithms and systems work, the ministry sources said, noting that discussions are on and such matters involve "judgment calls" and "tweaks".
US states seek $200 billion penalty in blockbuster Meta lawsuit
A coalition of US states will seek around $200 billion in damages against Meta, which they accuse of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children, when a landmark trial kicks off on Tuesday. A coalition of states sued Meta in 2023 for allegedly designing addictive features for kids in its apps and violating state laws.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri likens social media addiction to being hooked on a Netflix show, says 16 hours of daily use 'problematic' but not...
Instagram head Adam Mosseri likened social media addiction to being hooked on a Netflix show and said that 16 hours of daily use of the app is problematic but not a clinical addiction. Adam Mosseri has led Instagram for eight years and was testifying in the landmark trial that started this week in Los Angeles. Adam Mosseri said he did not think it was possible to say how much Instagram use was too much.
YouTube argues it isn't social media in landmark tech addiction trial
YouTube, its lawyers said, is an entertainment platform more like Netflix than a social network like Facebook. People use the video streaming app to learn how to cook, knit and become pop stars, not endlessly scroll, they added.
Instagram chief says social media is not 'clinically addictive' in landmark trial
Instagram's chief executive said Wednesday that social media was not "clinically addictive," refuting claims that the platform prioritised making money over the mental health of young users in a landmark tech addiction case.
YouTube argues it isn't social media in landmark tech addiction trial
YouTube, its lawyers said, is an entertainment platform more like Netflix than a social network like Facebook. People use the video streaming app to learn how to cook, knit and become pop stars, not endlessly scroll, they added.
EU accuses TikTok of 'addictive design,' seeks changes to protect users
The European Union has accused TikTok of breaching digital rules over “addictive design” features such as autoplay and infinite scroll. EU regulators said the app failed to properly assess risks to mental and physical health, including children. The European Commission said TikTok should change the basic design of its service, which the company denied.
TikTok sued by 13 US states and DC, accused of harming younger users
Thirteen U.S. states and Washington D.C. have sued TikTok, alleging the platform harms minors by fostering addiction through its content. The lawsuits seek financial penalties and criticize TikTok's content moderation, despite the company's claim of implementing safety features for young users.
US states accuse TikTok of harming young users
A group of 14 US states on Tuesday filed lawsuits accusing TikTok of ensnaring young users with addictive features, then harming their minds and violating their privacy. TikTok then hits young users with money-making ads, the lawsuits argue.
Load More
