Meta's appeal highlights systemic design of addictive platforms targeting youth
Original framing: “Meta appeals landmark jury verdict that found it to blame for social media addiction for young users - AP News” — AP News (via Google News)
The addictive design of social media mirrors the historical strategies of the tobacco and gambling industries, which similarly used behavioral science to maximize user dependency. These parallels reveal a recurring pattern of corporate exploitation of human psychology.
The Meta case is not just about corporate accountability but about the systemic design of digital platforms that prioritize profit over human well-being.
By integrating Indigenous knowledge, historical parallels, and cross-cultural perspectives, we can better understand the structural incentives driving addictive design. Scientific evidence supports the need for regulatory intervention, while artistic and spiritual traditions offer alternative visions of technology in harmony with human flourishing. Marginalized voices, particularly youth, must be central to shaping future digital governance. Only through a holistic, systemic approach can we create platforms that serve the public good.