KQED's Forum Are Social Media Companies Responsible for Screen Addiction in Kids?
Jan 30, 2026
Catherine Price, health and science journalist who writes about tech habits, and Cecilia Kang, tech reporter who covers big tech and legal battles. They discuss lawsuits accusing platforms of fostering youth screen addiction. Conversations cover internal company research, addictive design features, generative AI risks for kids, youth-led abstinence movements, and legal strategies to hold companies accountable.
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Internal Research Versus Causation Defense
- Defendants will argue causation is unclear and point to other life factors to rebut harm claims.
- Plaintiffs counter with internal documents showing executives prioritized engagement and debated removing addictive features.
Educate Kids About How Apps Work
- Teach kids the business incentives behind apps and give them tools to resist manipulation.
- Catherine Price recommends empowering kids with education and positive alternatives like real-life fun and social activities.
Test By Taking Breaks From Platforms
- Randomized controlled trials stopping social media show people report feeling better after breaks.
- Catherine Price suggests treating RCTs differently and using break experiments to test impact now.
