11 h. ago Tech giants head to landmark US trial over social media addiction claims

Meta, YouTube and TikTok accused of making products intentionally addictive and harmful to young peopleFor the first time, a massive group of parents, teens and school districts is taking on the world’s most powerful social media companies in open court, accusing the tech giants of intentionally designing their products to be addictive. The blockbuster legal proceedings may see multiple CEOs, including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, face harsh questioning.A long-awaited series of trials kicks off in Los Angeles superior court on Tuesday, in which hundreds of US families will allege that Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube’s platforms harm children. Once young people are hooked, the plaintiffs allege, they fall prey to depression, eating disorders, self-harm and other mental health issues. Approximately 1,600 plaintiffs are included in the proceedings, involving more than 350 families and 250 school districts. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago TikTok, Meta and YouTube face landmark addiction trial over claims they harm children

At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials ‘KGM’

Technology

15 h. ago Meta, TikTok and YouTube face landmark trial over youth addiction claims

Three of the world’s biggest tech companies face a landmark trial in Los Angeles starting this week over claims their platforms deliberately addict and harm children

Technology

6 d. ago BBC announces landmark deal to make bespoke content for YouTube

Agreement a milestone for British television as broadcaster teams up with world’s biggest video platformThe BBC has announced that it will produce tailor-made content for YouTube in a milestone for British television as the public service broadcaster teams up with the world’s biggest video platform.The corporation has previously posted clips and trailers for BBC shows on YouTube but under the new deal it will make fresh programming for its online rival. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Snapchat’s parent company settles social media addiction lawsuit before trial

Snap’s chief executive had been due to testify in civil action also involving Meta, TikTok and YouTubeSnapchat’s parent company has settled a civil lawsuit shortly before it was due to start in California, but other large tech companies still face a trial under the case.Snap’s chief executive, Evan Spiegel, had been due to testify in a tech addiction lawsuit which also involves the Instagram owner, Meta; ByteDance’s TikTok; and Alphabet-owned YouTube – which have not settled. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Former tech insider warns social media has become a ‘poisoned chalice’

Sir Nick Clegg criticised Instagram for bombarding users with content that appears to be "much worse, particularly for younger people’s mental health"

Events

1 week ago Former Meta boss, Nick Clegg, sounds alarm over ‘TikTokification’ of social media

Sir Nick criticised Instagram for bombarding users with content that appears to be "much worse, particularly for younger people’s mental health"

Events

3 w. ago 'We were secretly filmed in Manchester by men wearing Meta glasses

People in Manchester say they were secretly filmed by strangers wearing Meta glasses, eyewear that can capture video discreetly for TikTok and other platforms. The MEN investigates how the tech is being misused.

Sport

3 w. ago ‘The source of all life is here’: plan to mine lithium in Chilean salt flat sparks fears of water scarcity

The Colla Indigenous people claim Rio Tinto’s plans to extract the key mineral will harm fragile ecosystems and livelihoodsMiriam Rivera Bordones tends her goats in a dusty paddock in the russet mountains of Chile’s Atacama desert. She also keeps chickens and has planted quince and peach trees and grapevines, which are watered by a stream winding down the hills towards the Indigenous community of Copiapó.But now the huge British-Australian mining multinational Rio Tinto has signed a deal to extract lithium, the “white gold” of the energy transition, from a salt flat farther up the mountains, and she fears the project could affect the water sources of several communities in the area. Continue reading...

Politics