Thank you all for the many amazing suggestions we received regarding future blogs and podcasts, and I can't wait to tackle them.  

Last week, over three dozen states filed a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The lawsuit alleges that Meta deliberately designed features on Instagram and Facebook to have addictive qualities, particularly for young users, despite knowing the potentially harmful effects of their technology. 

The lawsuit states:

“...through its development of Instagram and Facebook, Meta created a business model focused on maximizing young users’ time and attention spent on its Social Media Platforms; (2) Meta designed and deployed harmful and psychologically manipulative product features to induce young users’ compulsive and extended Platform use, while falsely assuring the public that its features were safe and suitable for young users.” 

We are at a critical point where the deceptive tactics Meta uses to keep users, especially youths, constantly engaged are getting exposed, and states are demanding accountability. Last week, ABC News interviewed me about the recent lawsuit. 

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Here is the lowdown that is absolutely worth a chat with your children. It can be a shared moment to discuss the ways companies have been manipulating them and what should be done to help curb their use. 

Meta has known:

This is a moment like what happened with big tobacco when it was finally uncovered that the companies were fully aware of the harmful effects of their products but had been denying that knowledge in public. 

The revelations surrounding Meta are deeply concerning, particularly regarding their knowledge of the negative impacts excessive use of their platforms can have on young people. This information was brought to light by individuals like Frances Haugen, who exposed the company's internal insights by releasing 2,200 confidential Facebook documents to The Wall Street Journal. To get a deeper view of the underpinnings of Facebook, I highly recommend Frances Haugen's new book, The Power Of One,  which I am halfway through and am enjoying immensely. 

I have my own experience with Facebook’s inside knowledge. Back in 2017, I was invited to the Facebook headquarters to show the first Screenagers film to their Adolescent Products Division and lead a discussion afterward. When I spoke about my concerns regarding the addictive aspects of their platforms, particularly Instagram and youth, many people on their team nodded in agreement.

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The problem of addictive features

In my clinic, I frequently encounter teenagers who express feelings of being trapped. For instance, a 15-year-old girl I recently saw shared that she uses social media to seek support from friends. However, she is aware that while on these platforms, she is often exposed to a barrage of images and videos that can negatively affect her mental state, leading her into a darker mindset. Additionally, she mentioned how social media sometimes presents her with seemingly quick solutions to her problems, such as easy access to drugs, a topic we delve into in our latest film, Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age. 

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What changes should Meta make?

This is the question that we can ask our kids and students.

I believe they should:

• Require stronger age verifications
• Cease notifications
• Set daily time limits 

Overarching solution

This issue involves a three-pronged approach: Engaging schools, families, and the tech industries:

• Schools: Implement "Away for the Day" policies. This means reducing exposure to harmful content on campuses by limiting the use of personal devices during school hours.
  

• Families: Empower families by providing them with strategies and tools. This involves helping them collaborate within their family to effectively manage and limit the amount and types of digital content their children get exposed to.
  

• Tech Industries: These industries need to take proactive steps to mitigate risks associated with their platforms. They should also be held accountable for the content and interactions they facilitate, ensuring they are safe and appropriate for young users.

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Helpful hints for families:

• Talk as a family about the components of social media that make it particularly hard to put down.
• Talk about the fact that social media does not just exist on phones. 
• Create, with kids' input, policies where tech is away. This could be about having devices out of the bedroom during the day, particularly at night.  
• Make sure your children understand that they can always come to you if they encounter any problems or negative experiences on social media. Assure them that your reaction will not be to take their phone away. It's important to communicate this message to them frequently.

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Some questions to get the conversation started:

1. What are some positive experiences or benefits you've had from using social media? 
2. What are some features or aspects of social media that you find make it hard to stop using? How do you feel about features like likes, endless scrolls, and notifications?
3. Were you aware that companies like Meta (which includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are getting sued for making their apps addictive? What are your thoughts on this, and what changes do you think these companies should make to their apps?
4. Would you feel comfortable coming to us if something bothers you on social media, knowing that we won't take your phone away but will try to help you?

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As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

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