This Verdict is A. Big. F(lipping). Deal.
Image by ChatGPT
Earlier today, a jury in Los Angeles found Meta and Google were guilty of deliberately designing products with addictive features designed to hook young users and knowingly harming their well-being.
This is a big deal.
I have worked with young people for over a decade, and have followed the epidemic of screen addiction, which is getting worse every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
For years, I have felt the United States is in the same place where we were in the 1950’s with cigarettes; everyone knows they are bad, but how bad is it really? Anyone, everyone uses them, so what’s the deal?
Unfortunately, screen addiction is profoundly impacting our youth. I have worked with dozens upon dozens of teens suffering from significant difficulties paying attention in school, having the confidence to interact with others in person, and using screens so much that they are not engaging in after-school activities, which is profoundly impacting their self-esteem and self-confidence. Screen addiction has impacted our young people and stolen untold hours that could have been used to practice sports, music, build in-person social skills, learn for school, read books, and other vital activities needed for children and teens to grow up to be well-adjusted and successful adults. Companies like Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram; Alphabet, which owns Google and YouTube; ByteDance, which owns TikTok; and Snap, which owns Snapchat, have literally made billions by exploiting young people through unregulated, highly addictive technology.
Individuals diagnosed with ADHD and ASD have been found to be especially vulnerable to addictive screen technology. Addictive Screen activities have been shown to make ASD and ADHD symptoms more severe, so this verdict is especially critical to individuals and families with ADHD and ASD.
I am in favor of capitalism and individuals making money from their products and services, but I am not in favor of companies exploiting users and profiting from intentional and grievous harm that comes directly from the typical and expected use of their products. For decades, social media giants, like the tobacco companies before them, have marketed their products as extremely attractive to young people and heavily promoted the idea that teens and preteens who did not use them were left out. This was and is wrong.
This is a gigantic win for public health, for young people in the United States, and for families. I see that both Google and Meta say they will appeal the verdict. I hope that judgement stands, and I hope additional families, teens and children are able to obtain relief from the billions and trillion-dollar companies that made so much money off of products they knew were harmful to young people.
David Nathan, MBA, PsyD, LP
I offer ADHD and ASD testing in St. Paul, MN. I would love to help you or a loved one if you are seeking an ADHD or ASD evaluation. For more information, please call me at (651) 337-3944 or fill out my contact form.
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