CANADALAND The Real Way to Stop Big Tech From Harming Kids
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Apr 3, 2026 Douglas Soltis, a technology journalist at BetaKit who covers tech policy and social media harms. They discuss recent U.S. court rulings against platforms and why litigation alone may not protect kids. Conversation covers framing social platforms as product-safety problems, whether Canada should follow Australia’s youth ban, and how incentives and AI shape harmful algorithms.
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Courts Framing Social Media As A Product Safety Problem
- U.S. court cases are shifting the debate from speech immunity to product safety by targeting addictive design rather than user content.
- Judges can evaluate whether platforms knowingly marketed harmful features and put defective products on the market, using internal research as evidence.
Industry Knew About Harm For Decades
- Douglas Soltis recounts industry knowledge that companies have known for decades their products harm young people.
- Internal Meta reports documented damage to young women while executives still prioritized growth metrics.
Undercover Accounts Found Dangerous Content For Youth
- In the New Mexico investigation, undercover youth accounts encountered 'thinspiration' content and sexual solicitations, showing direct risks.
- Courts used those undercover tests plus internal exec communications to build the case.