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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
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.
India’s media industry needs to move from scale to value: Prabhat
Prabhat emphasized the need for India's media and entertainment industry to create enduring economic value. He noted that overwhelming scale of content production is insufficient for sustainability and growth in creative enterprises. Greater investment in original intellectual property and improved protection against piracy were highlighted as essential.
ETtech Explainer: Decoding EU’s move to dismantle addictive technology for children
The proposed KIDS Act would set different access rules by age, bring AI companions and conversational chatbots under the bloc’s child-safety framework and require platforms to build safeguards into their services. The proposal comes as governments in several countries consider tighter restrictions on children’s access to social media and other online services.
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.
California governor signs law to limit children's social media risks
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than a dozen new laws on Thursday that address various aspects of children's safety online, including one that prohibits social media companies from serving addictive features to users under 16 years old. Instead, it defines "addictive" features as ones that are "psychologically exploitative" and prohibits social media companies from providing children with features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations and autoplay.
Portuguese group D3 sues Meta, TikTok and YouTube over addictive design
A spokesperson for Alphabet's Google, owner of YouTube, said providing people with "a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work" and pointed to tools such as "take a break" and bedtime reminders designed to help users manage viewing habits.
California bans addictive social media features for under-16s, AI chatbot toys
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed technology laws protecting children online. These measures restrict social media features designed for compulsive use. A four-year ban on AI companion chatbots in toys was also enacted. The legislation strengthens online privacy and parental controls for minors. These laws aim to ensure technology supports children's well-being.
ETtech Explainer | Meta’s $17.1 billion toll shifts focus from content to product design
Meta is now dealing with a substantial settlement in the United States in response to mounting child safety issues. This agreement is the result of claims regarding addictive design elements and the mental health implications for younger users. Countries around the world are tightening regulations on social media for minors, with India also contemplating age restrictions and scrutinising platform design.
29 states in US want Meta to change how Facebook and Instagram operate and give $1.4 trillion penalty; the case now threatens Mark Zuckerberg's AI plan
A groundbreaking federal trial has begun against Meta Platforms, with 29 US states alleging that the company intentionally designed its social media applications to foster compulsive usage among youth. The outcome of this case may influence Meta's approach to artificial intelligence and data utilization. The trial examines accusations that Meta crafted features specifically aimed at extending the engagement of young users.
Meta disregarded its own research on teen harm, Tennessee tells jury
The lawsuit, filed by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office, seeks financial penalties and a court order directing Instagram to modify aspects of the platform that the state says are harmful to teens' mental health. If the jury finds the company liable, the trial will enter a second phase before the judge overseeing the trial, who will decide whether to order the company to pay financial penalties and make changes to Instagram to make it safer for teens.
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.
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.
No option 'off the table' as UK mulls social media ban for children
Britain is considering tougher limits on children’s social media use, with no ideas ruled out, including possible bans. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that constant scrolling harms young people’s wellbeing and growth. Starmer said parents would be offered evidence-based advice on how long children aged five to 16 should spend on phones, tablets and computers, with separate guidance for under-fives to be published in April.
World's first rollable touch-screen tablet inspired by ancient scrolls developed
Beyond the innovative flexible display, the prototype also features a camera that allows users to employ the rolled-up MagicScroll as a gesture-based control device -- similar to that of Nintendo's 'Wiimote'.
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