States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children's mental health

alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgmod to Technology@beehaw.org – 205 points –
States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children's mental health
apnews.com
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I like (no) how everyone knows this is about everybody’s mental health but you can only push things these days if iT iS aBoUt cHilDrEn or other touchy topic. Apparently adults can’t have mental health issues I guess, otherwise how will they do their jobs for cents

You're absolutely not wrong, but I think they're making the case that it's like tobacco or gambling which society kinda agrees is stupid but allows adults to have the freedom to indulge in. Honestly I think it's a good comparison.

It is a good comparison, but it goes to show how the framing of individual freedom supremacy warps any discussion about the collective. As soon as you hit "freedom age" magic number, suddenly you can't hold accountable the powers at play anymore.

To an extent, but it's also not like tobacco or gambling are wholly uncountable in the way that Meta largely is. I would be much happier with companies like Meta if their products at least came with a warning about potential for addiction/depression etc. When they pretend they are places to "connect" and have "friends" it feels kinda like if a casino was allowed to present itself as an "investment opportunity".