Social Media on Trial

2026-01-29

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For years, social media companies have relied on an impenetrable first amendment protection to shield them from legal claims that their products are dangerous to children.But now, a cluster of plaintiffs are trying a different tact.Cecilia Kang, who covers technology, explains why these new lawsuits pose an existential threat to social media giants, and how those companies are likely to defend themselves.Guest: Cecilia Kang, a reporter covering technology and regulatory policy for The New York...

For years, social media companies have relied on an impenetrable first amendment protection to shield them from legal claims that their products are dangerous to children.

But now, a cluster of plaintiffs are trying a different tact.

Cecilia Kang, who covers technology, explains why these new lawsuits pose an existential threat to social media giants, and how those companies are likely to defend themselves.

Guest: Cecilia Kang, a reporter covering technology and regulatory policy for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Here’s what to know about the social media addiction trials.
TikTok reached an agreement to settle a lawsuit, avoiding the first in a series of landmark trials.

Photo: David Gray/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

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