Social Media’s Big Tobacco Moment

The podcast explores the legal battles Meta and YouTube are facing regarding social media addiction, particularly in light of a recent verdict finding them liable for damages to a plaintiff, KGM. New York Times tech reporter Ryan Mac discusses the significance of the case, noting it avoids Section 230 by focusing on platform design rather than content. The conversation highlights the challenges of holding tech giants accountable, given their vast wealth and influence, even though the jury awarded $6 million in damages. The potential domino effect of this and similar cases is considered, alongside the limited federal regulation of social media in the U.S., and the bipartisan legal actions emerging against big tech.