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The Tech Oversight Project Launches New Microsite Highlighting Evidence from the Landmark Social Media Addiction Trials - Tech Oversight Project
webtechoversight.org·techoversight.org/2026/02/02/microsite-social-media-addic...
This press release announces a microsite documenting evidence from social media addiction trials against Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok, relevant to AI safety discussions around algorithmic harm, addictive design, and tech accountability — particularly as AI-driven recommendation systems raise similar concerns about intentional harm and regulatory responses.
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Importance: 28/100press releasenews
Summary
The Tech Oversight Project launched a microsite compiling evidence from landmark social media addiction trials showing Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok deliberately designed platforms to addict children. The cases, compared to Big Tobacco litigation, involve over 235 plaintiffs and mark the first time Big Tech executives face liability for knowingly harmful product design. Evidence includes internal emails, presentations, and expert testimony revealing kids' addiction was central to business models.
Key Points
- •Internal documents show Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok knowingly designed features like infinite scroll and algorithmic feeds to addict children.
- •The trials involve 24 bellwether state cases plus federal MDL with 235+ plaintiffs including AGs, school districts, and families.
- •Cases are compared to Big Tobacco precedent — first time Big Tech CEOs face liability for harmful product design.
- •Evidence reveals platforms exposed children to mental health harms and sexual predators as a byproduct of engagement-maximizing design.
- •The microsite will be updated as new evidence is unsealed throughout the trial proceedings.
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The Tech Oversight Project Launches New Microsite Highlighting Evidence from the Landmark Social Media Addiction Trials - Tech Oversight Project
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Press Releases
The Tech Oversight Project Launches New Microsite Highlighting Evidence from the Landmark Social Media Addiction Trials
Feb 02, 2026
Disturbing evidence shows Big Tech intentionally designed its products to addict kids – no matter the damage
Microsite to be updated with new material throughout the trial
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As opening statements in the landmark social media addiction trials begin this week, The Tech Oversight Project launched a new microsite to spotlight evidence from these lawsuits. The documents on the site show a clear pattern: Meta, Google, Snap, and TikTok deliberately designed their platforms to keep kids hooked, tracked, and exploited. Emails and instant messages among company employees, presentations from internal meetings, expert testimony, and more reveal that kids’ addiction was core to their business model.
“This is a never-before-seen look under the hood at Big Tech’s years of lies about their harmful and outright dangerous products. The already-unsealed evidence makes it clear that CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and Evan Spiegel have been lying to the American people for years about the damaging impact product features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmically-curated feeds have on kids – causing serious mental health issues and exposing them to sexual predators in the process,” said Sacha Haworth, Executive Director of The Tech Oversight Project. “Make no mistake: unearthing this evidence and forcing Big Tech CEOs to answer for it in a court of law is an important step forward. Uncovering the truth will inspire lawmakers in Congress and statehouses across the country to take action to ensure this never happens again.”
BACKGROUND :
Opening arguments will begin this week in the first of 24 bellwether personal injury state cases. This case focuses on plaintiff K.G.M., who says she became addicted to social media platforms as a child, which led to anxiety, depression, and body image issues.
In addition to the California state law cases, federal cases with more than 235 plaintiffs, including local and state government Attorneys G
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