So, you may have heard about this big lawsuit floating around where someone is suing Instagram and YouTube, claiming these apps are so addictive that they harmed her mental health starting when she was a literal kid. Basically, the argument is that these platforms were engineered to be addictive, especially for young users and that the companies somehow own the responsibility for every minute you stay scrolling.
Let me be honest… we live in a world now where it feels like you can sue someone for just about anything. Someone burns their tongue on hot coffee from a drive thru and suddenly there’s a lawsuit. Someone watches endless clips of influencers and then blames Instagram? Yep .. lawsuit. That’s where we’re at. And it’s pretty wild.
Hold Up…. Are We Losing The Plot on Accountability?
Look, I get it mental health is real, platforms are addictive, and there are times your screen time slips away faster than your paycheck after rent. But at some point we need to hold ourselves accountable.
You’re the one who clicks “Next video.” You’re the one who tells yourself “just five more minutes” at 10 pm And suddenly it’s 1 am and you’ve watched compilations of people sneezing, people pouring beans into bowls, and people dancing in sync to songs you’ve never heard in your real life. It happens to the best of us.
That said… if a lawsuit is gonna target a social media platform for being addicting? Honestly? It should be TikTok LOL
Why TikTok Might Deserve the Roast
Don’t get me wrong Instagram and all these apps can be addicting, and there’s plenty of concern around how they impact young people. But let’s be real… TikTok is the true power house
You start watching one 15 second clip about a recipe. Then a guy dancing. Then a cat. Then a history lesson. Then makeup hacks. Then… boom three hours later you’re still there, wondering if it’s lunchtime or yesterday. TikTok doesn’t even give you a “Next video” button it just feeds you and feeds you and feeds you and feeds you. It’s like an algorithmic buffet where the food never ends and the portions are all bite sized and delicious.
Point is All Social Media Can Be Addictive
Let’s hit the truth social button (no pun intended lol)…. any and all social media platforms can be addicting. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat they’re all built to keep you scrolling. That’s how they make money. But guess who ultimately decides what stays on your screen?
You.
You have to make the call to disconnect. You have to set boundaries. You have to put your phone down at a reasonable hour and start living in the real world again. Apps might be crafted for engagement, but the power to close them still lies with you.
So should companies do better about protecting kids and setting sensible defaults? Absolutely. Should they be forced to own up to harm done when they knew something was hurting people and didn’t act? That’s what courts will decide. But at the end of the day it’s up to each of us to manage our behavior and watch our own kids
Speaking of social media and cough cough TikTok…Feel free to swing by and check out my content…just maybe set a timer so you don’t accidentally watch TikTok for four hours straight. LOL
