Social Media Addiction: U.S. Verdict Highlights Importance of Corporate Responsibility

Editorial

15:00 JST, March 31, 2026

The problem of social media platforms being designed to lead minors into addiction is becoming increasingly serious.

In the United States, a home to major tech giants, the significance of a jury verdict finding corporations accountable is profound. It can be said that this will compel companies to take concrete measures moving forward.

In a civil lawsuit filed by a 20-year-old woman who claimed that her mental health issues were caused by the highly addictive design of social media, a jury in a California court ruled in favor of the plaintiff.

The court ordered Meta, the operator of Instagram, and Google, which owns YouTube, to pay a total of $6 million (about ¥960 million) in damages. Both companies reportedly plan to appeal.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff had been immersed in social media platforms such as Instagram since childhood and developed such disorders as body dysmorphia — a condition in which people believe they are ugly — as well as depression. Meta countered that her family environment was the cause.

The verdict said the defendants failed to warn users of the risks and the plaintiff suffered emotional distress, thereby acknowledging the defendants’ negligence. This verdict can be said to represent a broad interpretation of corporate responsibility regarding the design of the apps.

Many issues have been raised regarding minors’ use of social media, including sexual images, fake videos and cyberbullying. Among these matters, this lawsuit focused on the issue of addiction.

To generate massive amounts in advertising revenue, social media companies devise algorithms to increase page views, endlessly recommending a stream of stimulating content designed to provoke anger or surprise. Users seek “likes” for their posts and continue checking the app all day long.

While addiction is a problem even for adults, the developing brains of children are sensitive to stimulation and lack mature self-control, making them particularly vulnerable and requiring special consideration.

In the United States, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act provides broad immunity to social media companies, and this has served as a shield, making it difficult to hold them legally liable over content posted by users.

What is new about the verdict is that it focused on the design of the app.

There are estimated to be thousands of similar lawsuits against social media operators, and the verdict is being considered a landmark one because it impacts the very core of their business. Shouldn’t the social media industry consider fundamental measures, such as tightening age restrictions for users and modifying app designs?

In Japan, the Children and Families Agency is considering countermeasures. The agency should identify issues involved in strengthening social media regulations, while keeping an eye on developments in the United States, and move forward with the discussions.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31, 2026)