PBS News Hour - Full Show March 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Mar 25, 2026
Stephanie Sy, PBS correspondent in Australia, reports on the country’s new social media ban for under-16s and its effects on teens and families. Jacob Ward, tech journalist and newsletter host, explains historic legal rulings holding Meta and YouTube accountable and what that means for the industry. They discuss enforcement challenges, legal consequences, and broader tech-policy tensions.
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Design Liability Changes Social Media Law
- Two juries found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive platforms that harm children, establishing a new legal theory focused on product design.
- Los Angeles verdict pointed to interface features and choice architecture as the source of harm rather than user content alone.
Prepare For Cascade Of Social Media Lawsuits
- Expect massive legal follow‑ons and appeals that could multiply small verdicts into billions in aggregate.
- Jacob Ward recommends preparing for insurer withdrawals and expanded state lawsuits that raise per‑user damages.
Shutdown Causes Real Hardship For DHS Workers
- The DHS shutdown strains 100,000 workers who have missed multiple paychecks, creating acute operational and humanitarian risks.
- Lisa Desjardins highlighted evictions, repossessions, contractors unpaid, and safety risks like fuel deliveries for the Coast Guard.