02/26/2026
Is the social media trial in LA the next “Big To***co Moment”?
Does this case dodge the real question: Who is actually accountable for what kids consume and when? … Parents???
In my latest piece, “The Social Media Trial Is Missing the Real Defendant: Us,” I argue that persuasion did not begin with algorithms.
Long before AI, campaigns, brands, and media learned to observe, segment, and target. We did it with clipboards, loyalty cards, Nielsen ratings, and direct mail. The tactic is not new. What changed is the scale, speed, and always-on delivery.
That matters for the tech industry because the precedent being tested is bigger than one lawsuit. If “attention capture” itself is treated as a product defect, we are not only litigating social platforms. We are litigating the mechanics of modern communication and marketing.
But here’s the part many leaders avoid saying out loud: regulation cannot replace parenting. Boundaries used to be enforced at the kitchen table. Now, too many households outsource that job to app settings, school policies, and, eventually, the courts.
I remember my parents warning about too much television. They worried video games would rot our brains. They were skeptical of rock music, violent movies, and later, the internet itself. Every generation confronts a new medium that feels dangerous.
Here is the article:
The Social Media Trial Is Missing the Real Defendant: Us Every generation confronts a new medium that feels dangerous By Hector Barajas, February 24, 2026 3:00 pm 24 Feb 2026 3:00 pm A Los Angeles jury is weighing a question that could reshape the technology industry: Were major social media platfor...
