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“Predatory Tech”: Silicon Valley on Trial in Landmark Youth Social Media Addiction Case

2026-02-19 News & Politics
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Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-desc-yt Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — and Google are on trial in Los Angeles in a lawsuit accusing them of fueling and profiting from addictive behaviors aimed at children and young adults. We host a roundtable with victims and advocates who say the "predatory tech" giants Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe

Top Comments (10)

@gracey3282 2026-02-19

Meta along with other companies are responsible for the chaos they cause. Just like we are responsible for every action we do.

44 2 replies
@terri-p5k 2026-02-19

I’m so horrified and deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved children. May God give you strength and I will keep you all in my prayers.

36
@imanuel4533 2026-02-19

Its disgustingly funny how social media can block, shadow ban, & demonotise posts that criticise a genocide but cannot do the same to post that are harmful to children. Its almost like they prefer deceased children.

99 9 replies
@LittleJohn-w4f 2026-02-19

The internet has became a business not about lives destroyed.

22 1 replies
@Lovelyhawaiian 2026-02-19

My deepest condolences for the loss of these beautiful children. Saying that I don’t understand why corporate media stop telling the truth in news. Democracy Now is honest journalism. Most Americans want to stay ignorant to the seriousness of real local and worldwide news. Thank you ladies for working so hard to change laws and regulations. Especially bringing out the horrors of social media

7
@lostinchineseroom 2026-02-19

Discord's age verification rollout has ties to Palantir co-founder and panopticon architect Peter Thiel.

102 14 replies
@edenrose8831 2026-02-20

I cried. Thank you for speaking for the youth and protecting them and seeking justice.

2
@shaytheo 2026-02-20

My 41 year old son was just hospitalized because of his social media addiction. This is not just effecting kids under 18. This is effecting everyone. The dopamine hit is a true addiction. And just like cigarettes, the companies know exactly what they are doing.

10 1 replies
@Charles.Foster.Offdensen 2026-02-19

Big tech loves to use "teh kids" as an excuse to control the law, lobby politicians into things that benefit them and actually harm kids in reality, but they are literally harming them on purpose, so don't ever believe any of them gaf about children, or literally anyone but themselves

34 2 replies
@canyonlightning7030 2026-02-19

🙏😀🌅I appreciate this discussion. Thank you all for speaking on this difficult topic.

6

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