Social Media Addiction Trial Puts Big Tech Back in the Spotlight

A California trial is taking on whether social media platforms are addictive by design. A plaintiff known as KGB is suing Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok. YouTube argues it’s more like Netflix than social media, but Tech Gumbo’s Haggai Davis says their Shorts, likes, and shares make that impossible. Davis explained that platforms use casino-style algorithms — giving occasional “wins” to trigger dopamine and keep users scrolling. Teens spending 16 hours doom-scrolling becomes part of the debate over addiction vs. personal responsibility. He also noted a growing fight over AI regulation: Anthropic wants guardrails; OpenAI wants fewer limits. Both launched $20 million super PACs to influence politics. Tech Gumbo will continue covering these issues on Talk 107.3 FM.