Go back
Are companies at fault for being addicting?

Are companies at fault for being addicting?

Debates

2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/08/11/us-court-rejects-meta-google-and-tiktoks-lawsuit-immunity-claims

Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok were sued for being "too addicting".

A US appeals court has ruled that lawsuits accusing Meta Platforms, Google and TikTok, along with other social media companies, of designing addictive platforms can proceed, particularly over claims involving younger users.

he suits have been filed by several US school districts, municipalities, states and individuals, who claim the platforms have intentionally hooked younger users, contributing to soaring rates of anxiety, depression and body-image issues.

Outside of substances that can be ingested into the body like food, cigarettes, etc:

Should a business be sued if their product is too addictive? If a video game like the ones on Facebook or a platform is "addictive", isn't that just great product design?

If a business is "addicting" because of its ambiance, lights overall vibe, isn't this the goal so customers return and spend more? If RHP is "too addicting", isn't that a compliment to the Russ?

Again: I'm NOT talking about alcohol, cigs, etc., but online or in-person outlets that make things addicting. After all, if a TV series is "addicting" and you regularly tune in to watch it, hasn't that been a goal of TV shows since forever?

Or should they be held accountable if it's found that a company intentionally engineered to make their site, show, game or whatever in a way that causes addiction?

Where's the line with TV shows that everyone raves is "addicting"? Or what about music designed in a way to be a massive hit that gets constant radio play?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Gambling?

Vote Up
3
Vote Down

@vivify said
https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/08/11/us-court-rejects-meta-google-and-tiktoks-lawsuit-immunity-claims

Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok were sued for being "too addicting".

[quote]A US appeals court has ruled that lawsuits accusing Meta Platforms, Google and TikTok, along with other social media companies, of designing addictive platforms can proceed, particularly o ...[text shortened]... ddicting"? Or what about music designed in a way to be a massive hit that gets constant radio play?
Addiction is a chronic and compulsive behavior that has severe negative consequences. It has to be harmful. So, good sounding music or a hit TV show does not fit that bill.

If the social media companies know their products were addictive (aka harmful) but didn't warn any of their consumers or change the platform to be less addictive, then they should definitely be sued to the moon.

Vote Up
5
Vote Down

@vivify said
https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/08/11/us-court-rejects-meta-google-and-tiktoks-lawsuit-immunity-claims

Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok were sued for being "too addicting".

[quote]A US appeals court has ruled that lawsuits accusing Meta Platforms, Google and TikTok, along with other social media companies, of designing addictive platforms can proceed, particularly o ...[text shortened]... ddicting"? Or what about music designed in a way to be a massive hit that gets constant radio play?
I believe there is brain-scan evidence that a mechanism of positive re-inforcement can be set up with attention-grabbing stimuli, somewhat similar to the rush one gets by ingesting chemicals. A strong case for causality it is not, or not yet, but that is what one would have to show to bring court cases.

Vote Up
1
Vote Down

@wildgrass said
Addiction is a chronic and compulsive behavior that has severe negative consequences. It has to be harmful. So, good sounding music or a hit TV show does not fit that bill.

If the social media companies know their products were addictive (aka harmful) but didn't warn any of their consumers or change the platform to be less addictive, then they should definitely be sued to the moon.
Then should casinos be sued?

1 edit
Vote Up
2
Vote Down
-1

@vivify said
Then should casinos be sued?
Well, for one, there are strict enforcement of age limits for using casinos and clear regulations that often require consumers of gambling services to acknowledge they are engaging in addictive and harmful behavior. If regulations aren't followed to reduce self-harm, then yes, casinos can and should be sued.

I think if social media platforms set up similar rules, or if lawmakers compel them to, then the social media giants would probably be ok to continue producing products that clearly have serious harms on our society.

Social media companies don't want that though because harm reduction measures will hurt their bottom line. Remember when they started putting "Smoking causes a slow and painful death" warning on cigarette packages?

Sue them to the moon for knowingly producing and disseminating a product that has harmed so many millions of people.

Vote Up
3
Vote Down

@moonbus said
I believe there is brain-scan evidence that a mechanism of positive re-inforcement can be set up with attention-grabbing stimuli, somewhat similar to the rush one gets by ingesting chemicals. A strong case for causality it is not, or not yet, but that is what one would have to show to bring court cases.
Exactly.
Some games play into triggering dopamine responses. Extra product if you play longer, more product if you buy this or that.

The likes in facebook is another example. People do things for the stimuli of an ego boost. It creates addictive behaviour and teenagers especially will go further and further for likes. Not that they are generally on facebook, but Instagram and such work along the same methods.

Vote Up
Vote Down

People used to get addicted to checking e-mail.

Vote Up
Vote Down

@vivify said
https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/08/11/us-court-rejects-meta-google-and-tiktoks-lawsuit-immunity-claims

Meta (Facebook), Google and TikTok were sued for being "too addicting".

[quote]A US appeals court has ruled that lawsuits accusing Meta Platforms, Google and TikTok, along with other social media companies, of designing addictive platforms can proceed, particularly o ...[text shortened]... ddicting"? Or what about music designed in a way to be a massive hit that gets constant radio play?
For a long time in psychology, there was a basic definition of 'addiction'.

Continuing a behavior even in the face of serious detrimental consequences.

Granted, it's a bit more nuanced now, as people speak of something being 'addicting' even without serious detrimental consequences.

Vote Up
2
Vote Down
-1

@vivify said
Then should casinos be sued?
Not if Native Americans own them. Sequoia's revenge.


😀

Vote Up
3
Vote Down

@wildgrass said
Well, for one, there are strict enforcement of age limits for using casinos and clear regulations that often require consumers of gambling services to acknowledge they are engaging in addictive and harmful behavior. If regulations aren't followed to reduce self-harm, then yes, casinos can and should be sued.

I think if social media platforms set up similar rules, or if l ...[text shortened]... moon for knowingly producing and disseminating a product that has harmed so many millions of people.
Germany maintains a list of people who are addicted to gambling and circulates the list to casinos w/ instructions to turn them away at the door if they try to enter.

No such list for alcoholics at bars, however.

This would be hard to implement online w/ social media.

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

@moonbus said
Germany maintains a list of people who are addicted to gambling and circulates the list to casinos w/ instructions to turn them away at the door if they try to enter.

No such list for alcoholics at bars, however.

This would be hard to implement online w/ social media.
That's fascinating.

Your post made look more into "gambler blocking", as they call it. Apparently, you can apply for gambler blocking either for yourself or a 3rd party, if you can show gambling is a danger to that person.

Interesting they don't have such a list for bars & pubs in a nation where you can legally drink as early as 14.

Vote Up
1
Vote Down

@vivify said
That's fascinating.

Your post made look more into "gambler blocking", as they call it. Apparently, you can apply for gambler blocking either for yourself or a 3rd party, if you can show gambling is a danger to that person.

Interesting they don't have such a list for bars & pubs in a nation where you can legally drink as early as 14.
I may be addicted to RHP as I have been “playing” here for 20+ years and as can be seen, like most compulsive gamblers, my losses far outweigh my wins.😲

Vote Up
Vote Down
-1

@AThousandYoung said
People used to get addicted to checking e-mail.
The "other things also do this" argument is nonsense rhetoric. I could drive a car off a cliff, or I could also drive a SCOOTER off a cliff. Gotcha!

While I'm not a lawyer, what I've read about this issue is that lawsuits against social media are based on faulty product design that knowingly caused harm. Like if you put candy in a bag and sold it, versus if you mixed candy and broken glass in a bag and sold it because you thought that would make you more money.

Vote Up
Vote Down

@moonbus said
Germany maintains a list of people who are addicted to gambling and circulates the list to casinos w/ instructions to turn them away at the door if they try to enter.

No such list for alcoholics at bars, however.

This would be hard to implement online w/ social media.
I think social media companies would be protected from most of these lawsuits moving forward if they agreed to use disclaimers regarding known harms on their websites/apps and age verification.