Infinite scroll, likes, autoplay and other features that exploit users’ dopamine cravings replicate neurological processes that fuel gambling addiction
Though just how far the problem can go was laid bare in the recent case of KGM against Meta and Google in a US court.
The 20-year-old plaintiff, KGM, sued the owners of Instagram and YouTube, claiming that her extensive use of those platforms was driven by a deliberate use of addictive design features and damaged her mental health.
KGM said she had been using YouTube since she was six and Instagram since she was nine, spending up to 16 hours a day on these platforms.
The California jury agreed. They found Meta and Google liable, awarding KGM US$6 million in damages. The owners of TikTok and Snapchat had reached settlements shortly before the case went to trial.
Perhaps the result shouldn’t come as much of a surprise? Social media platforms generate profits through advertising. Retaining eyeballs on screens for as long as possible is a commercial imperative.
