Social Media Found Liable for Mental Health Harm

0:00It's March 26th. From your city to your ears, this is Canada News Today, powered by AI. Juries in two states just sided with families and experts, claiming social media harms kids' mental health. In New Mexico and Los Angeles, verdicts held meta and Google's YouTube responsible for addictive platform designs that lead to issues like anxiety. Eating disorders and worse for young users. This marks the first time courts have ruled this way after years of debate. The New Mexico case came from the state attorney general, who sued meta in 2023. Investigators posed as minors online and tracked sexual solicitations plus weak responses from the company. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles trial featured one teen plaintiff against meta and YouTube after TikTok and SNAP settled early. It's part of bell-weather tests for thousands of similar suits. Advocates, parents, and doctors are celebrating these wins as a big shift in how people view tech giants. For years, companies called harms unintentional or blamed users, but now public opinion is

1:04turning. A recent poll shows nearly half of teens believe social media hurts their peers, up from about a third just a few years back. These rulings bypassed old internet liability shields by targeting deliberate design choices over user content. Experts say platforms may need to rethink endless scrolling hooks that boost engagement. Both companies plan appeals, so final outcomes could drag on for years. But more lawsuits and state probes are likely ramping up. As social media faces this heat, attention is shifting to new tech, like artificial intelligence chatbots and their risks for kids. Regulators have a chance now to push for real safeguards before the next big threats emerge and draw in young users.