Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:14 pm
Montreal, Canada: A class-action lawsuit was filed by a 24-year-old man from Montreal against popular social media platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook. According to a report from CTV News, the lawsuit claims that these platforms are highly addictive by their design and have considerably affected users in terms of mental health.
Complainant’s Claims and Experiences
The plaintiff, who began using social media in 2015, says heavy usage has led to his problems with productivity and body image. He claimed to have used it as much as four hours daily at one point, though he has since scaled down his usage to about two hours a day. Although this was reduced, he still suffered damage regarding his productivity and sleep, said Philippe Brault of Lambert Avocats, the firm representing him.
Legal Counsel Underlines Concerns
“In 2024, it’s estimated that humanity will spend 500 million collective years on social media,” Mr. Brault stressed.
Impact on Younger Users
Mr. Brault also referred to one alarming statistic: 52% of Canadian children within the age brackets of 7 to 11 years use social media. He is extremely concerned with such huge numbers of young users. A lawsuit looks to attain compensatory and punitive damages based on the argument that such design of these platforms manipulates the psychological susceptibilities in users’ heads, which has resulted in excessive and injurious use of their services.
Social Media Company Accountability
The lawsuit could have significant implications as to how social media companies approach mental health issues, and design of their platforms. It reflects a growing movement toward holding accountable tech companies for the psychological impact their products may cause.
