Last week, on Wednesday, March 25th, 2026, a jury in a California case found that Meta and Google were negligent for contributing to a young woman’s mental health issues.^[1] The woman is 20 years old and began using Meta and Google’s apps at a young age.^[2]

Now What?

Well, let the claims begin. (Yes, I meant that as a pun with “games.”) But seriously, there are currently over 2,000 similar lawsuits pending from states, school districts, and parents claiming social media is responsible for a “youth mental health crisis.”^[6] This is just what’s officially pending right now as open lawsuits.

Obviously, the companies have already stated their intention to appeal the verdict, and we know that will be a lengthy drawn-out process.^[7] This might make Kaley more stressed and depressed, so maybe she’ll have a case against the judicial system now, too.

Hell, the AI posts on Facebook that you never know are real or not have caused me serious stress and arguments with friends and family. It has led to lost time at my work and really affected me. I think I should file a suit now. Anybody else feel the same way?

– Rob, seriously considering it

This is seriously how bad it could get, folks!

But you say, “Rob, that’s ridiculous. That’s simply ‘reductio ad absurdum’ and ‘post hoc, ergo propter hoc’” — because I know you’re very, very smart and know Latin, or have seen all episodes of the Big Bang Theory. I have learned repeatedly in my life over the past, even 1 or 2, years that I simply can’t ever say “never”, or “always”, or words like that anymore. I’ve been shocked at things that have happened. I won’t go off on a tangent with examples. You know what I’m talking about.

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Rob’s Real Take

People have the ability to affect their own outcomes. Morgan Freeman was told one time in an interview something to the effect of “not everyone can do that” or “I just couldn’t get out of the environment I was in.” He responded with: “Man, the bus runs every day.”

Man, the bus runs every day.

– Morgan Freeman

The originators of these lawsuits need to take responsibility on themselves to keep the children safe and do what they can. Don’t allow social media in school? You can block all of that on school computers and networks. Parents — actually look at your kids’ internet history.

“But Rob, that’s too much effort, I shouldn’t have to do that” or “Rob, I don’t have access to my kids’ computer”, or “Rob, I didn’t know my kid was seeing all that on social media.”

Bullshit! You’re the parent. Be the damn parent and take control of the situation. It’s not your job to always keep your kid happy. Your job is to raise productive, mentally healthy, sociable kids and prepare them for adulthood — and them being mad at you or disagreeing with you is not a mental illness.

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I Already Hear the Arguments

That’s all bullshit. If someone is blaming social media for their mental illness, then they know they have a mental illness, and they should know how to work through it with professionals. There isn’t a single person alive today who isn’t aware of how social media manipulates us and targets us. If you didn’t know that, then I don’t even know how you’re reading this.

Instead of finding blame and getting rewarded for finding that blame, actually deal with the issue and help yourself.

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