In a Boston 25 News broadcast, reporter Lisa Pappas covers a landmark jury verdict that holds Google and Meta responsible for making their social media platforms—YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram—addictive to children. Child psychologist Dr. Ellen Bratton explains how excessive social media use harms developing brains, likening its impact to substances such as alcohol and marijuana. Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano identifies specific design flaws, notably infinite scroll and autoplay, that function like a "tobacco spike" to bypass impulse control. The jury concluded the companies failed to warn users about these dangers, awarding millions in damages to the plaintiff, who claimed early addiction and subsequent mental‑health struggles. The segment also notes that TikTok and Snap settled before trial and emphasizes the need for parents to regulate their children’s social‑media intake.
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Tonight, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube found liable in a social media addiction trial, and now they have to pay. Boston 25 News reporter Lisa Pappas spoke with a child psychologist and tech expert about how these apps can hook kids in and keep them scrolling.
Rachel, this is a landmark decision that will really set a precedent for social media companies to be more aware of how their platforms can be damaging to young people and whether they need to make some serious changes to the design of these apps.
I do think this is a wake-up call for parents and also gives them some, some evidence to show their kids, look at, this is a significant problem.
In a verdict Wednesday, a jury found Google and Meta liable in making their social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram addictive to children. Child psychologist Dr. Ellen Bratton says it's no surprise social media use has a negative impact on a child's mental health, but now these companies are being held legally responsible for it for the first time.
It does affect kids more negatively, just like lots of other things do, like alcohol, like marijuana use, like different other sorts of substances that adults can use them just fine, um, but kids can't because their brains are still developing and because they don't have great decision-making capabilities.
Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano says this court case proves there's a design flaw in these platforms to make them more addicting.
Features like infinite scroll and autoplay are the digital equivalent of what they call the tobacco spike. You know, it's engineered to bypass that child's or even adult's impulse control.
The jury also found these companies didn't provide enough warning to users about these potential dangers. The plaintiff in this case says she became addicted to social media at a young age and it led to her mental health struggles. So now Meta and Google have to pay the plaintiff millions of dollars for the harm their platforms caused. The plaintiff also sued TikTok and Snap, but those companies settled before the trial.
This is finally an opportunity for parents to see this is a big deal. This is harmful to your kids, and you as parents, now armed with that information, need to regulate your child's intake of this social media.
Experts say this is a big reminder for parents to limit their child's social media use. Dr. Bratton says one thing you can try is to keep cell phones out of bedrooms. As for this lawsuit, Google and Meta both say they disagree with this verdict and may explore the option to appeal. I'm Lisa Pappas for your local station, Boston 25 News.
