Ahead of their trial, TikTok has chosen to settle before it began. This comes on the heels of Snap settling last week. They were part of a major lawsuit, along with Meta and Google, regarding teen addiction. Like all settlements, no details of either has been released. Snap said last week, “The Parties are pleased to have been able to resolve this matter in an amicable manner.” As TikTok settles it’s case, Meta and Google are slated for trial with jury selection beginning yesterday.
I am conflicted about this lawsuit. As Gen-X, I grew up during a time of “Satanic Panic”. People believing others are responsible for their kids. With technology advancing, many older people just don’t learn. They either can’t be bothered or willing to learn how things work. Simply trying to get my generation into using dark mode is a chore.
On the other side, I can see how many of these tech companies know what they’re doing.
TikTok Settles Doesn’t Change Anything
When I was a kid so many things were ‘bad’. Comic books. Rap music. Video games. Violent cartoons. We were still fighting against criminalizing Grand Theft Auto in the 2010s. We did episodes about it. The mentality of the child must be taken into account, as well.
Many people have addictive personalities. My family had a predisposition for drug and alcohol. Fortunately, I didn’t fall into either, except soda and Carl’s Jr chicken strips. I am not letting big tech off the hook by any means. However, it is easier to blame outside forces.
Now, people want to be internet celebrities, social media influencers, or just popular. It is an old ambition. Why work for a living when you can be famous. Big Tech needs to keep you on the app. That is their business. However, regulating your child’s social media participation is critical.