Canada man sues social networking sites Meta, TikTok, and Reddit for being addictive

A man from Montreal, Canada, is filing a lawsuit against social networking platforms YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok claiming that they cause addiction and have a negative impact on mental health, as per CTV News.

The 24-year-old man said that he began utilising social media in 2015 and since then, started experiencing numerous problems with body image and productivity. As per the lawsuit, his utilisation time of social networking sites was up to four hours, but he has now cut that down to two hours a day. Philippe Brault from Lambert Avocats, the law firm representing the man said, "He still finds that it has an effect on his productivity and his sleep.”

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Brault added, "In 2024, it's estimated that humanity as a whole will be using social media for a total of 500 million years." He mentioned that the firm took this case because it is an ever-growing problem for everyone. He highlighted that 52 per cent of children in Canada between the ages of seven and eleven use social media.

The aim of the case is to recover these punitive damages for the purportedly careless platform designs of social media companies. Brault also highlighted that platform owners should prioritise the safety and health of their users.

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The design of these social media platforms exploits the psychological weaknesses of their users, leading to extended engagements that negatively impact the user's daily lives.

"We're also looking to get this message out there by talking to the media. People have to understand the risks of the use of social media," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)