The Current Is social media addictive?
Feb 20, 2026
Emma Duerdin, a neuroscientist studying adolescent brain development and social media effects, and Claire Duffy, a tech reporter who covered the LA trial and leaked Meta documents, discuss whether platforms are built to hook young users. They walk through court scenes, internal company research, reward-driven design, dopamine and brain imaging, and what legal and policy stakes are in play.
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Banner of Compulsive Posts
- During testimony, Kaylee's lawyer unfurled a huge banner of hundreds of her Instagram photos to dramatize compulsive posting.
- The visual aimed to show the jury the scale of her engagement on the platform.
Engagement Is The Business Goal
- Meta's business model depends on maximizing time spent to sell more ads, which incentivizes engagement-focused design.
- That commercial incentive sits at the heart of the lawsuit over youth harms.
Zuckerberg's Defense Framing
- Zuckerberg framed the issue as balancing safety with privacy and expression while denying intent to hook teens for short-term gain.
- He said his aim is long-term platform appeal, leaving it to the jury to judge sincerity.