The rise of "dopamine sites": fake food delivery and shopping apps that satisfy cravings without spending a cent
Researchers say the trend satisfies a need for instant gratification in uncertain times
Meta settles a lawsuit that said it addicted students and left schools to deal with the damage
The Kentucky district claimed addictive design features forced schools to divert resources from education
The EU is going after TikTok and Meta over addictive algorithms and child safety failures
As always, Brussels is especially thinking about the children
NIH study identifies experimental opioid with strong pain relief and lower addiction risk
The molecule, known as DFNZ, emerged from efforts to redesign high-potency opioids for safer use
"Tech neck" is becoming a new concern as phone use reshapes how we age
All that scrolling may be showing up on your neck
Jury reaches verdict in social media addiction trial, finds Meta liable for harm to children
Jurors say the company misled users and violated state law, with penalties totaling $375 million
Europe is coming after infinite scroll – TikTok's endless feed is now a legal problem
The Digital Services Act takes aim at addictive platform design
Big Tech is finally on trial for how it built its algorithms
A teen is suing Meta, TikTok, and YouTube over algorithmic harm – and thousands more cases are waiting
Why it matters: When jurors in Los Angeles walk into a courtroom this week, they'll confront a question technology companies have long sidestepped: can a line of code, an algorithmic feed, or a design pattern cause psychological harm? The case, K.G.M. v. Meta et al., marks the first personal-injury trial to test whether social media platforms themselves – not just the people who use them – bear responsibility for the mental-health fallout of the digital age.
Snap settles landmark lawsuit over claims its app harmed teen mental health
Lawsuit targeting infinite scroll and algorithmic engagement features raises stakes for other offenders like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube
New York wants social media to carry tobacco-style health warnings
Governor Hochul stated that New Yorkers deserve safety and transparency
Woman wins $1,380 for going eight hours without a smartphone
It wasn't just about staying off your phone
US Surgeon General calls for tobacco-style health warnings on social media - it's bad for your mental health
"Social media is bad for your health"
A hot potato: The US Surgeon General wants social media to carry the same kind of health warning labels as cigarettes and alcohol. Dr. Vivek Murthy has called on Congress to apply labels to the sites and apps that alert users to the potential mental health harms they cause.
New fMRI study reveals internet addiction physically changes brain chemistry in children 10-19
Physical coordination and cognitive functions like memory and decision making are affected
Priest arrested for using $40,000 of parish funds on mobile games, including Candy Crush and Mario Kart
WTF?! Mobile games are known for their addictive nature, something that can lead people to spend a lot of money on them. Take the example of the Catholic priest who was recently arrested and charged with stealing over $40,000 from his former parish and spending it on the likes of Candy Crush and Mario Kart.
The EU has given TikTok 24 hours to provide details about its payment-for-views Lite app feature
"Is social media 'lite' as addictive and toxic as cigarettes 'light'?"
Study appears to debunk link between internet use and mental health
No "smoking gun" could be found
Recent video game addiction lawsuit lists five major video game publishers as liable for damages
Activision Blizzard, EA, Epic Games, Microsoft, and Ubisoft intentionally get gamers hooked, lawsuit claims
Utah sues TikTok over China connections, manipulating children with addictive design
Utah has been clamping down on social media platforms this year
Study reveals some teens receive 5,000 notifications daily, most spend almost two hours on TikTok
Kids officially don't like Facebook
Study suggests China's online gaming restrictions might not be achieving intended results
They could be having the opposite effect
China wants to severely limit young people's mobile use and internet access
To as little as 40 minutes per day
Running away for Wi-Fi, violence, and theft: A look into a gaming addiction clinic
When a hobby becomes a dangerous obsession
An agency is offering three people $1,000 to scroll TikTok for 10 hours straight
Would (or could) you do it?