A landmark social media addiction trial resumed on Monday, focusing on whether platforms like YouTube encourage harmful binge-watching. YouTube’s vice president of engineering, Cristos Goodrow, testified that the platform’s goal is to provide YouTube viewer value, not to hook users.
Goodrow explained that YouTube was designed to give meaningful content, even as questions arose about internal goals to increase viewer engagement. Lawyers pressed him on features such as auto-play and a child-friendly version, which were seen as encouraging continuous use.
Documents presented in court showed that YouTube tracked engagement metrics and studied potential harms from excessive viewing. Goodrow maintained that these features were meant to enhance user experience rather than exploit it.
The trial examines the case of 20-year-old Kaley G.M. from California, who started using YouTube at age six. She, along with Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, is part of a broader lawsuit alleging social media contributes to mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
The court proceedings are expected to continue until late March. The verdict may set a precedent for thousands of cases against social media companies over the psychological impact on young users.
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