"For years, big tech companies have placed the burden of managing screen time squarely on individuals and parents, operating on the assumption that capturing human attention is fair game. But the social media sands may slowly be shifting. A test-case jury trial in Los Angeles is accusing big tech companies of creating "addiction machines". While TikTok and Snapchat have already settled with the 20-year-old plaintiff, Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is due to give evidence in the courtroom this week."
"The European Commission recently issued a preliminary ruling against TikTok, stating that the app's design-with features such as infinite scroll and autoplay-breaches the EU Digital Services Act. One industry expert told the BBC that the problem is "no longer just about toxic content, it's about toxic design." Meta and other defendants have historically argued that their platforms are communication tools, not traps, and that "addiction" is a mischaracterization of high engagement."
A test-case jury trial in Los Angeles accuses big tech companies of creating 'addiction machines', with TikTok and Snapchat already settling and Meta's CEO scheduled to give evidence. The European Commission issued a preliminary ruling that TikTok's design features, including infinite scroll and autoplay, breach the Digital Services Act, and industry experts label the problem 'toxic design'. Defendants argue platforms are communication tools and dispute the characterization of 'addiction', while testimony noted psychology does not classify social media addiction as an official diagnosis. Academic research connects features like infinite scroll, autoplay and push notifications to mechanisms that can override self-control and produce 'automated attachment' in heavy users.
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