As this litigation unfolds in the upcoming months and years, it will reveal whether tort law can be an effective tool for targeting concerns over social media usage. [1] See Eli Tan, Mark Zuckerberg Takes the Stand in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial, N.Y. Times (Feb. 18, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/technology/mark-zuckerberg-tech-addiction-trial.html. [2] Cecilia Kang, Social Media Giants Face Landmark Legal Tests on Child Safety, N.Y. Times (Jan. 27, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/technology/social-media-addiction-trial.html. al., Social Networking Sites Addiction and Adolescent Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model of Rumination and Self-Esteem, 127 Elsevier 162, 166 (concluding that social media addiction is a risk factor for developing depression). [11] Cecilia Kang, TikTok Settles Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Ahead of a Landmark Trial, N.Y. Times (Jan. 27, 2026), https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/technology/tiktok-settlement-social-media-addiction-lawsuit.html.

Source: New York Times March 12, 2026 00:25 UTC