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Big Tech Sued Over Addictive Platform Design
10 Sep
Summary
- Four lawsuits filed against Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
- Features like infinite scrolling and autoplay are cited.
- Portugal's digital rights group D3 is leading the action.
Digital rights organization D3 has initiated four collective lawsuits in Portugal against major technology platforms including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and Alphabet's YouTube. These legal actions, filed between April and May and disclosed after the judicial summer break, target features allegedly designed to keep users hooked.
Features highlighted include infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, persistent notifications, and personalized recommendation systems. D3 contends that these elements create behavioral feedback loops similar to those used in the gambling industry, by removing natural usage breaks and repeatedly prompting users to return.
These lawsuits aim to hold the platforms accountable and compel them to provide a safer experience for their users. This development comes as social media faces mounting scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, with previous instances including charges against TikTok in the EU and a settlement by Meta in the U.S. over addiction claims.
