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- Meta’s courtroom strategy: Redefining social media addiction
- Inside the New Mexico and Los Angeles trials over youth harms
- What science actually says about social media and addiction
- How Meta frames the issue: Problematic use, not clinical addiction
- Practical ways users and families can respond right now
- Concrete steps to rebalance your digital habits
- Is social media addiction an official mental health diagnosis?
- Why does Meta argue that social media addiction is not real?
- Can social media design actually influence addictive behavior?
- How can I tell if my social media use is becoming harmful?
- What can parents do to support healthier digital wellbeing?
Meta is arguing in court that “social media addiction” is not real, while psychiatric experts insist the opposite. Behind that clash sits a far bigger question for you: who gets to define when your online habits quietly become a health risk?
Meta’s courtroom strategy: Redefining social media addiction
When New Mexico’s attorney general took Meta to court over alleged harms to children, the company did not only dispute the facts. It attacked the very language. Meta’s lawyers told jurors that social media addiction “is not a thing,” anchoring the argument in the absence of a diagnosis in formal psychiatric manuals.
That line was repeated during opening statements, broadcast by Courtroom View Network and later analyzed by outlets such as Engadget. According to Meta’s counsel, because the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not list social media addiction alongside alcohol or opioid disorders, the concept should not guide legal responsibility. The message to jurors was clear: if the handbook does not name it, the courts should not, either.
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Mental health experts push back on Meta’s narrative
Mental health researchers responded swiftly. The American Psychiatric Association clarified that the missing diagnostic label does not erase the phenomenon. On its own site, the APA offers resources about problematic social media use and explicitly states that the absence of an official code does not imply nonexistence or irrelevance for Digital Wellbeing.
Clinical psychophysiology researcher Tania Moretta described Meta’s courtroom narrative as a misunderstanding of how science evolves. She explained that diagnostic manuals codify consensus after years of evidence. Many behavior patterns are studied, treated, and even reimbursed by insurance long before they receive a formal entry. From that perspective, insisting that addiction must first appear in a book sounds more like a legal tactic than a scientific position.
Inside the New Mexico and Los Angeles trials over youth harms
Two different courtrooms now form the stage where this dispute about Reality and Addiction plays out. In New Mexico, the state alleges that Meta’s platforms facilitate child exploitation and harm minors through design choices meant to keep them scrolling. The case intertwines safety failures with questions about engineered compulsion loops.
On the other side of the country, a Los Angeles jury is hearing a personal injury lawsuit from a California woman. She argues that prolonged exposure to Instagram and other services damaged her mental health because of design elements that amplified her vulnerabilities. According to coverage from sources such as CBS News, her lawyers describe a pattern that looks less like casual browsing and more like a slot machine built into a touchscreen.
Whistleblowers, internal research, and juror perception
Jurors in the New Mexico trial have already heard from former Meta staffers Arturo Bejar and Brian Boland. Both have publicly criticized the company for underinvesting in safety and downplaying internal findings about harm to young users. Their testimony suggests that, inside the company, teams documented risks that did not always translate into visible change.
These trials will also surface internal research about User Behavior, sleep disruption, self-esteem, and anxiety among teenagers. When that data reaches a jury, the debate shifts from abstract Addiction theories to specific design decisions: recommendation algorithms, notification patterns, and content ranking. The core question becomes whether those technologies merely mirror human preferences or intentionally Influence them in unhealthy directions.
What science actually says about social media and addiction
Beyond courtroom rhetoric, researchers have been studying “social media use disorder” for years. They track not just screen time but withdrawal symptoms, loss of control, and conflicts at school or work. These markers mirror behavioral addictions observed in gambling, gaming, and compulsive shopping, even though precise thresholds remain debated.
Moretta’s work highlights psychophysiological alterations in heavy users who report distress. Studies indicate changes in reward and regulatory systems: notification pings act as cues, likes as variable rewards, and endless feeds as frictionless access. For a subset of people, especially adolescents with preexisting vulnerabilities, this loop correlates with sleep disruption, psychological distress, and impaired functioning in academic, social, or occupational domains.
Design features under scrutiny: From infinite scroll to streaks
Lawyers in the current cases often compare feeds to “digital casinos.” That metaphor refers to specific Technology choices rather than vague concerns about Social Media. Infinite scroll removes stopping points, autoplay keeps video flowing, and unpredictable like counts create slot-machine style reward schedules that encourage “just one more” swipe.
Research summarized in outlets such as The New York Times and other technology magazines suggests that these interface patterns can heighten compulsion, especially when combined with social comparison. For teenagers negotiating identity and status, metrics such as followers, views, and streaks map directly onto self-worth. In that context, debating the exact diagnostic label may feel secondary to managing Digital Wellbeing risks.
How Meta frames the issue: Problematic use, not clinical addiction
During his testimony in Los Angeles, Instagram head Adam Mosseri adopted a more nuanced but still defensive stance. He acknowledged that people can use Social Media in problematic ways and may even talk casually about being “addicted” to a platform or show. Yet he drew a line at clinical terminology, arguing that Instagram does not create the same dependence profile as drugs or alcohol.
Meta’s legal team echoes that framing. They emphasize parental responsibility, broader societal stressors, and the benefits of connection, creativity, and expression online. According to their narrative, design features that keep users engaged serve advertising economics but do not automatically equal Addiction. The company highlights tools such as time limits, quiet modes, and content controls as evidence that it supports healthier User Behavior.
Why the definition battle matters for liability and policy
The difference between “addictive design” and “engaging experience” is more than semantics. If courts accept that platforms function like addictive products, future lawsuits from school districts, parents, and state attorneys general become easier to argue. Insurance frameworks, workplace policies, and even product liability standards may shift accordingly.
Media coverage in places such as The Atlantic highlights this as a foundational test for tech accountability. Should companies be treated like publishers, casinos, or something new altogether? The verdicts will Influence how designers weigh growth metrics against Digital Wellbeing in their everyday product decisions.
Practical ways users and families can respond right now
While courts and experts debate definitions, individuals still need workable strategies. Consider a fictional family in Albuquerque whose teenager spends late nights on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Grades drop, sleep shrinks, and offline friendships fade. Whatever label you choose, the pattern demands action rather than waiting for a DSM update.
Families, educators, and individual users can borrow from addiction treatment frameworks without pathologizing every notification. The aim is not to demonize Technology but to rebalance control. Thinking in terms of experiments, not bans, often produces better results and preserves trust, especially with adolescents who value autonomy.
Concrete steps to rebalance your digital habits
Several practical moves can reduce compulsion while keeping the benefits of Social Media. They work best when you treat them as ongoing adjustments instead of one-time fixes and when you measure how you feel, not only how many minutes you spend online.
- Set device-free zones at home, such as bedrooms or dinner tables, to reintroduce natural stopping points.
- Disable nonurgent notifications and batch-check feeds at scheduled times rather than reacting instantly.
- Use built-in screen time dashboards to observe patterns over a week before making changes.
- Agree on “wind-down” rules that avoid algorithmic feeds during the last hour before sleep.
- For teenagers, co-create guidelines and revisit them monthly, focusing on mood, school performance, and relationships.
These steps will not resolve every case of compulsive use, especially when underlying anxiety or depression remains untreated. They can, however, shift User Behavior away from autopilot and make Digital Wellbeing a shared responsibility rather than a private struggle.
Is social media addiction an official mental health diagnosis?
Social media addiction is not currently recognized as a standalone diagnosis in the main psychiatric manual, the DSM-5-TR. That absence does not mean the problem is imaginary. Researchers study “social media use disorder” and document patterns of loss of control, withdrawal, and impaired functioning that resemble other behavioral addictions.
Why does Meta argue that social media addiction is not real?
In recent trials, Meta’s lawyers argue that because social media addiction is not listed in the DSM, it should not be treated like addiction to drugs or alcohol in court. Critics say this approach confuses formal classification with scientific reality and serves primarily to limit legal liability for design choices.
Can social media design actually influence addictive behavior?
Evidence from neuroscience and behavioral science suggests that features such as infinite scroll, variable rewards, and push notifications can reinforce compulsive use, especially in vulnerable users. These patterns do not affect everyone equally, yet they can contribute to addiction-like behavior in a subset of heavy users.
How can I tell if my social media use is becoming harmful?
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Warning signs include failed attempts to cut back, neglect of sleep or responsibilities, rising anxiety when offline, and conflicts with work, school, or relationships. If your use regularly violates your own priorities or values, it may be helpful to consult a mental health professional familiar with digital behavior.
What can parents do to support healthier digital wellbeing?
Parents can model balanced use, set clear but flexible boundaries, and focus on quality of content rather than only minutes online. Regular check-ins about mood, friendships, and school help detect problems early. Collaborative rules, rather than unilateral bans, usually produce better long-term habits for teenagers.
