Social media companies are being sued for harming usersExperts say the term ‘addiction’ is overused and, for mental health and social media use, could be difficult to proveBy Hannah Harris Green / The GuardianForthcoming legal proceedings against Meta Platforms Inc and YouTube are frequently referred to as the “social media addiction trials,” but whether these platforms are truly addictive is still the subject of scientific debate. POISON PILLSThe relationship between social media and mental health is complex and possibly “bidirectional,” meaning that poor mental health might drive social media use in addition to social media use driving poor mental health, so it was important not to simply conclude that social media is “the singular driver of the youth mental health crisis,” she said. Social media companies have been known to exploit the same “intermittent reinforcement” mechanism that makes gambling so compelling. The risks of jail time, psychosis or overdose are severe compared with the typical compulsive social media users’ risks, like less engagement with hobbies and friends. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the term “problematic use” when it comes to social media for these reasons, and also because social media provides benefits like information sharing and connection as well as harms.

Source: Taipei Times February 13, 2026 18:13 UTC