The tech ruling that was heard around the world. Meta, Parent company of Facebook, and YouTube have been found guilty of encouraging addictive behavior. The ruling in a California Court sent the social media sphere in a spin. The “death scroll” is a just time after more wasted time on the screen. Now the digital giants, after years of zero accountability, could face consequences.
How do the algorithms work? A question everyone asks, yet never an explanation. A woman was awarded $6 million by a jury for ruining her childhood. This does have similar themes to cigarette when producers were accused of adding addictive ingredients, keeping smokers hooked on a puff.
This water shed case in the digital industry could mean a turning point with regulation becoming a reality. Meta announced it will appeal the verdict.
After reading the petitioner spent up to 16 hours a day scrolling, this writer had a few questions? Why do we spend so much time looking over posts? Is this the fault of the platform? How did social media become the world’s babysitter? Should parents monitor their children’s digital interaction more closely? When does self-responsibility start? Should these companies know so much about us through our device engagements?
In the age of smartphones becoming appendages, can users sue Apple because they find impossible to leave their iPhone? After all, the average person checks the monitor 150 times a day.
Perhaps using the “power off button” more or uninstalling apps are simple solutions to rid the social media addiction.