Addiction is a complicated construct with multiple factors that typically influence behaviors.

The judgment holding Google and Meta liable for social media addiction isn't based on true medical diagnosis.

Holding companies responsible for patterns of engagement and behavior outcomes is a slippery slope.

The verdict delivered on March 25, 2026, holding Meta and Google responsible for purposefully designing social media platforms to be addictive, and knowing it can be harmful, is flawed at multiple levels.

At its core, this ruling negates personal responsibility for choices. Addiction is not a one-dimensional construct that is contributed to by a single factor. The ruling ignores extensive medical research showing that a multitude of factors increase or decrease the risk of addictive behaviors. Genetic proclivity, co-existence of other mental health conditions, lack of adequate parental oversight, isolation, and peer pressure can increase the risk of social media overuse.

As a psychiatrist, I wholeheartedly agree that millions of people engage with social media at times in an unhealthy way. However, in order to effectively mitigate harmful effects that can occur, we must understand the root causes. Simply blaming Meta and Google is a massive oversimplification and will likely reinforce the problem by both ignoring certain important causes as well as creating a financial incentive for proving harmful........

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