Newscast The Social Media Addiction Trial
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Mar 26, 2026 
Faisal Islam, BBC economics editor, gives a market and business view of the verdict. Zoe Kleinman, BBC technology editor, explains the court case, addictive design features and UK regulatory options. They discuss autoplay, infinite scroll and recommendation algorithms. They consider legal fallout for advertisers and big tech, and whether this marks a regulatory turning point for social platforms.
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Kaley's Early Heavy Use And Mental Health Crisis
- The plaintiff known as Kaley said she discovered YouTube at six and Instagram at nine and at times spent up to 16 hours a day online.
- She was later diagnosed with depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts and blamed social media for her mental health crisis.
Court Recognises Social Media Addiction As Legal Harm
- Courts can treat social media 'addiction' as a clinical, legally examinable condition.
- The jury found design features like autoplay and algorithmic recommendations made platforms addictive and negligent toward a user who developed depression and body dysmorphia.
Design Features Create The Engagement Incentive
- Specific product features drive engagement and potential harm: auto-scrolling, autoplay and highly effective recommendation algorithms.
- Platforms design these to maximise time spent so advertisers see more impressions, creating a commercial incentive to keep users hooked.