Main trial begins in landmark US addiction case against Meta, YouTube. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Appeal to emotion

Using emotionally charged language or vivid harms to influence readers’ feelings rather than focusing strictly on neutral description and evidence.

1) "Social media firms are accused in hundreds of lawsuits of leading young users to become addicted to content that has led to depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation and even suicide." 2) "Our investigation into Meta’s social media platforms demonstrates that they are not safe spaces for children but rather prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex," New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement.

3 suggestions

Clarify that these are allegations and not established findings in this case, and separate the description of alleged harms from causal assertions. For example: "Social media firms face hundreds of lawsuits alleging that their platforms contribute to addiction and are associated with serious mental health issues, including depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation and suicide."

For the New Mexico quote, add explicit attribution and context to avoid presenting it as fact: "In a separate case, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez alleged in a statement that Meta’s platforms are 'not safe spaces for children' and claimed they are 'prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex.' Meta has rejected these accusations, and the claims have not been adjudicated in court."

Balance emotionally charged allegations with brief mention of what evidence has or has not been presented so far, or note that the trial is ongoing and no liability has been determined.

Sensationalism

Emphasizing drama or using heightened language to make a story seem more extraordinary or alarming than the available facts strictly support.

1) "A landmark social media trial began in earnest on Monday that could establish a legal precedent on whether Meta or YouTube deliberately designed their platforms to lead to addiction in children." 2) "The case is being seen as a bellwether proceeding because its outcome could set the tone for a tidal wave of similar litigation across the United States."

3 suggestions

Attribute the characterizations more clearly and temper the language. For example: "Legal experts say the trial could be significant because it may help clarify whether Meta or YouTube can be held liable for allegedly designing their platforms in ways that encourage compulsive use by children."

Replace "tidal wave of similar litigation" with more neutral wording: "The case is being watched as a potential bellwether, as its outcome could influence how other similar lawsuits across the United States proceed."

Add a brief note on uncertainty: "It is not yet clear how much legal precedent this case will ultimately set, as appeals and differing rulings in other jurisdictions could affect its broader impact."

Unsubstantiated claims / Conflating correlation with causation (in quoted material)

Presenting or relaying claims that imply a direct causal relationship without clarifying that they are allegations or that evidence has not yet been adjudicated.

1) "Social media firms are accused in hundreds of lawsuits of leading young users to become addicted to content that has led to depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation and even suicide." – The phrasing "has led to" implies a proven causal chain rather than allegations under litigation. 2) "Our investigation into Meta’s social media platforms demonstrates that they are not safe spaces for children but rather prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex," – This is a strong causal and factual assertion presented as a quote, without clarifying the status of the evidence or that it is contested.

3 suggestions

Rephrase to emphasize the legal status of the claims: "Social media firms are accused in hundreds of lawsuits of contributing to patterns of use that plaintiffs say are associated with depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation and suicide among young users."

For the New Mexico Attorney General’s statement, explicitly frame it as an allegation and note Meta’s response: "In a separate lawsuit, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez alleges that Meta’s platforms are 'not safe spaces for children' and claims they are 'prime locations for predators...' Meta disputes these claims and says it will contest them in court."

Where possible, distinguish between what has been demonstrated in court, what is alleged in complaints, and what is based on preliminary investigations or advocacy group reports.

Oversimplification

Reducing a complex legal and technical issue to a simple narrative that may omit important nuance.

1) "Internet titans have argued that they are shielded by Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which frees them of responsibility for what social media users post. However, this case argues that those firms are culpable for business models designed to hold people’s attention and to promote content that can harm their mental health." – The description of Section 230 and the legal theory is very compressed and may give the impression of a simple binary: either shielded or culpable, without explaining the legal nuances. 2) "Lawyers for the plaintiffs are borrowing strategies used in the 1990s and 2000s against the tobacco industry, which faced a similar onslaught of lawsuits arguing that companies sold a harmful product." – This analogy compresses complex differences between tobacco and social media into a simple comparison.

3 suggestions

Expand the Section 230 explanation slightly to add nuance: "Internet companies have argued that Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act generally shields them from liability for content posted by users. Plaintiffs in this case contend that the companies should still be held responsible for how their platforms are designed and how content is recommended, issues that courts have not fully resolved."

Qualify the tobacco comparison: "Plaintiffs’ lawyers say they are drawing on some legal strategies used in past tobacco litigation, such as focusing on internal company knowledge and product design, though the legal and factual issues in social media cases are different."

Add a brief note that the legal questions are unsettled: "Courts are still grappling with how existing laws apply to social media platforms, and the outcome of this case may address only some of those questions."

Appeal to authority / Authority bias (via strong official statement)

Relying on the status of an authority figure to lend weight to strong claims, which may be interpreted as more established than they are.

"Our investigation into Meta’s social media platforms demonstrates that they are not safe spaces for children but rather prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex," New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement.

3 suggestions

Clarify that this is one side’s allegation and not a judicial finding: "New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, in announcing a separate lawsuit, claimed that an investigation by his office indicates that..."

Add balancing information: "Meta has rejected these accusations, saying that it removes such content and cooperates with law enforcement, and that the allegations will be tested in court."

If space allows, briefly mention whether any independent or court-verified findings support or contradict the Attorney General’s claims, or state that such findings are not yet available.