A landmark case in March this year saw a young woman successfully sue the social networking companies Meta and YouTube for designing addictive products. The 20-year-old alleged that she suffered from depression, suicidal thoughts, and severe body dysmorphia due to her almost constant use of social media.
Agreeing with the allegation, a Los Angeles jury awarded her $6 million in damages. They held the companies responsible for negligence regarding compulsive features in apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs of this particular case, it is indicative of today’s society. People are always looking for someone else to blame for their problems. In our ‘compensation culture’, many are encouraged to claim ‘victim status’ rather than taking responsibility for their own actions and decisions.
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