By Kate Schroder
Publication Date: 2026-04-06 19:39:00
April 6, 2026, 3:39 p.m. ET
Last week, something remarkable happened. For the first time, Meta and Google were found liable for the harm their platforms can cause to young people. These decisions did not say that social media is inherently bad. Instead, they recognized something many parents already know deep down: certain features − endless scrolling, autoplay videos, algorithmic feeds, and constant push notifications − are designed to keep kids hooked, even when that use becomes unhealthy.
Technology, of course, is not the villain. It can spark creativity, fuel learning, and help our kids connect with friends near and far. But for many young people today, those benefits are increasingly overshadowed by distraction, peer comparison, and self‑doubt.
The cost to kids
Youth ages 8-18 now spend 7.5 hours a day on screens. That much time shapes how kids think, feel, and see themselves − and not always in ways we’d choose. It also replaces time spent sleeping, reading, playing…
