Social Media Backlash Begins

Leaded petrol, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Plastic, Asbestos and Thalidomide were all things which started out as brilliant inventions which later became so dangerous that they had to be removed and Social Media could soon be added to the list as more and more countries deem it too hazardous for children.
Conceived initially to connect people and foster communities, social media’s influence has grown to shape politics, mental health and the spread of misinformation while enabling cyberbullying and social division. Platforms like Facebook and X have become central to political discourse, influencing elections and public opinion while disseminating misinformation has led to public health challenges, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, where false information actually hindered effective responses.
I have seen first hand the effect on mental health from cyberbullying and it has got worse since i left the education arena with plenty of studies showing the link between social media use and increased rates of depression and anxiety and not just in adolescents.
Only recently a Californian Court found Meta and YouTube responsible for injuries incurred by a 20-year-old woman over the course of her childhood including injuries, including body dysmorphia and thoughts of self-harm, that it attributed to these platforms and ruked they must pay the woman $6m in damages.
The Court found that it was clear that these companies knew of the addictive qualities of their sites and the potential damage to young people but  apparently chose to ignore what was evident to them and their users have paid the price but it is reported that a further eight cases are due to go to trial.
Many countries have recognised these dangers and acted decisively by barring under 16's from using social media platforms and we can only hope that like those other things mentioned, Social Media Platforms will be forced to change and become liable for their actions to make it safer or be consigned to history.