Is social media addictive? And are social media companies liable? - marketplace-tech Recap

Podcast: marketplace-tech

Published: 2026-02-05

Duration: 8 minutes

Guests: Eric Goldman

Summary

A landmark lawsuit in Los Angeles accuses social media companies of intentionally designing addictive platforms that harm children's mental health. The legal battle could reshape the internet, drawing comparisons to the tobacco industry's reckoning.

What Happened

A significant lawsuit in Los Angeles targets Meta and YouTube, alleging they design their platforms to be addictive, harming children's mental health. Snap and TikTok settled before the trial. This case is likened to the tobacco industry's historical legal battles, suggesting a pivotal moment for social media accountability.

Eric Goldman, co-director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University, provides insights into this and other lawsuits against social media companies. He mentions a federal court case in California with thousands of plaintiffs, including school districts, state attorneys general, and Native American tribes, set for bellwether trials later this summer.

Goldman explains the complexities plaintiffs face in proving that social media companies caused harm in a legally recognizable manner. This could have significant implications, potentially altering how platforms design their services and impacting user experiences.

The stakes are high, with the potential for these cases to challenge the financial viability of companies like Meta and Google. Goldman notes that the legal pressures could lead to substantial changes in internet use, affecting how content is accessed and consumed.

Beyond social media, the legal theories in these cases are being applied to other tech sectors, including video games and generative AI. This suggests a broader impact on the tech industry, as plaintiffs aim to establish a principle of addiction and causation.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which typically protects platforms from liability for user-generated content, plays no role in this trial. However, it is expected to resurface during appeals, potentially influencing future legal outcomes.

Goldman emphasizes the broader implications for social media users, highlighting how these legal challenges might restrict online communication, alter platform accessibility, or even lead to paid services.

He also anticipates the trial's focus on whether social media addiction exists and if companies are liable for ensuing harms. The case will feature expert testimonies that could challenge or reinforce prevailing views on platform responsibility.

Key Insights