A 2026 lawsuit challenges social media companies' liability for addictive design features harming minors' mental health.

The question of whether social media companies can be held legally accountable for encouraging addictive user behavior, especially among minors, is being tested in a historic 2026 lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, businesses like Meta exploited psychological weaknesses by using manipulative design elements like infinite scrolling and algorithm-driven content, which led to a rise in mental health problems. Although there are behavioral patterns that resemble addiction, legal experts say it is difficult to prove addiction in court because there are no widely recognized medical standards. The result could influence how digital well-being is addressed in law and policy by establishing a precedent for upcoming legal proceedings, regulatory actions, and tech industry practices.