Social media is getting dragged to court like it personally ruined everyone’s childhood.
Right now, thousands of lawsuits — especially in USA — are accusing platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok of causing mental health problems in young people. One case in Los Angeles is about to go to trial. TikTok already settled. The vibe? Big Tech bad. Very bad.
But honestly… is it really that simple?
Actually, Social Media Is Usually Just One Piece
Here’s the thing.
Mental health issues rarely come from one source only.
Depression. Anxiety. Trauma. These things don’t pop up just because someone scrolled Instagram too long. Many of the lawsuits involve kids who already had rough childhoods — violence at home, unstable environments, serious emotional stress.
Social media might pour petrol on a fire that’s already burning.
But it usually didn’t light the match.
And that matters.
I See It All The Time: Family Dinner, Everyone on Phone
Let me paint you a scene.
You’re at a restaurant.
One table. Four people. All staring at their own screens.
Teen scrolling TikTok.
Mum checking Facebook.
Dad replying work emails.
Nobody talking.
And we wonder why connection feels weaker?
Honestly, sometimes we blame the kids. “Aiyo, these teens addicted already.” But then… who gave them the phone? And who is also glued to one?
Kids copy what they see.
If family bonding time becomes silent scrolling time, don’t act shocked when emotional distance grows.
It’s not about banning phones completely. Relax. Nobody asking you to go full 1995.
But maybe during dinner?
Can or not just flip the phone face down?
Sometimes the problem isn’t the app.
It’s the habit.
But Here’s the Thing: People React Very Differently
This is where the argument against blaming platforms gets strong.
Two kids see the same post.
One kid laughs, feels connected, moves on.
The other spirals, compares, and feels like trash.
Same content. Totally different outcome.
Party photos?
One person feels left out. Another feels happy for their friends.
Healthy eating videos?
One person starts cooking better. Another relapses into disordered eating.
So now the question becomes:
How exactly is a tech company supposed to predict who will break and who will be fine?
Answer: they can’t, lah.
Honestly, Expecting Platforms to Babysit Everyone Is Unrealistic
Yes, social media companies should design responsibly.
Yes, they should stop pushing obviously harmful stuff.
But expecting them to protect every emotionally fragile user is… not realistic leh.
Life itself isn’t trigger-free.
If that’s the standard, then schools, TV, movies, and even classmates would all need warning labels too. Where does it end?
Moving On: Parents Still Matter
This part always makes people defensive.
But let’s say it anyway.
Parents still play a huge role.
That doesn’t mean blaming them when tragedy happens.
It doesn’t mean saying “just take away the phone” and everything will be okay.
It means deciding when your kid is ready.
It means using the tools already there.
It means actually paying attention to what your child is consuming.
Most platforms already have screen-time limits, content filters, and controls. Are they perfect? No. But they exist.
Ignoring all that and then pointing only at Big Tech feels… lazy, sia.
Also, Social Media Isn’t Pure Evil
Let’s not pretend social media only destroys lives.
It also:
- Helps shy kids find their people
- Keeps friendships alive
- Builds communities around niche interests
- Makes lonely people feel less alone
The same space that allows bullying can also spark genuine friendship. That contradiction is uncomfortable, but it’s real.
Blanket bans and panic lawsuits won’t change that.
Between You & Me
I think social media has become the easiest villain in the room.
When something goes wrong, it’s comforting to point at an app instead of looking at messy, uncomfortable factors like family dynamics, mental resilience, or personal boundaries.
Phones didn’t replace parenting.
Algorithms didn’t replace emotional support.
Scrolling didn’t erase personal responsibility.
Can social media make things worse? Confirm-plus-guarantee, yes.
Is it the root cause of a youth mental health crisis? I don’t buy it.
People deserve more nuanced conversations than “delete the app and sue the company.”
Instead of courtroom drama driving the conversation, maybe we should focus on:
- Teaching kids emotional literacy
- Helping parents understand online culture
- Encouraging healthier online habits
- Calling out truly dangerous platform behavior when it happens
Extreme cases shouldn’t decide how everyone else lives online.
Most people scroll, laugh, share memes, then go eat dinner. Completely fine.
Big Tech is a convenient boogeyman.
But society isn’t that helpless.
We can decide how much scrolling is enough.
We always could.
