Dan Schneider on Fox News: Jury Verdict Puts Social Media Giants on Notice for Addicting Kids

Media Research Center Vice President for Free Speech Dan Schneider joined Fox & Friends Early host Todd Piro Thursday morning to react to a landmark verdict that has parents across America cheering, a California jury found Meta (Instagram/Facebook) and YouTube liable for deliberately designing addictive platforms that harmed young users. The companies were ordered to pay millions in damages after jurors concluded the platforms were built to keep kids hooked, contributing to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and mental health crises.

Schneider said these social media giants “have been put on notice. They have to change their product when it is targeting kids. We have restrictions on alcohol and tobacco when kids are at issue.”

Piro referenced a Wall Street Journal  commentary warning this verdict could lead to a massive “shakedown” of social media companies by individuals claiming to be addicted to endless scrolling. 

Schneider warned it could go beyond just individuals claiming harm. “There are thousands and thousands of individuals, plus school districts and counties and now states who could all start suing. States trying to balance budgets will look to see if they can basically have Mark Zuckerberg and Google pay for their balance sheets.” 

Schneider concluded by noting that Congress must step in and with House leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, advancing protective legislation, Schneider is hopeful real reform may finally protect America’s children from Big Tech’s profit-driven addiction machine.