The Fox News Rundown A Bad Week For Social Media Giants
Mar 26, 2026
Jim Trusty, former federal prosecutor who handled complex international narcotics cases, and Josh Ritter, former prosecutor and legal analyst on tech litigation. They dissect a landmark verdict holding Meta and Google liable for addictive design. They also unpack the legal maze around Nicolás Maduro’s narcoterrorism charges and the challenges of classified evidence and sanction-related defense hurdles.
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Awareness Of Harm Mattered More Than Novel Law
- Josh Ritter says jurors were disturbed by companies' awareness they created addictive products harming young people.
- He emphasized executives knew platforms targeted vulnerable youth yet continued to optimize engagement for profit.
Algorithms Create Druglike Dopamine Loops
- Ritter argued social media triggers physiological dopamine responses similar to drugs, making screen-based interaction addictive.
- He linked algorithmic reinforcement and autoplay to engineered repeated returns and prolonged use among youth.
Bellwether Verdict Will Guide Thousands Of Cases
- The LA bellwether verdict will shape thousands of pending suits and set litigation strategy.
- Ritter noted this plaintiff had multiple personal issues, yet jurors still found platforms a significant contributing factor.