Fmr. White House CTO on social media's 'addiction trial': A blunt instrument to bring accountability

Summary

Aneesh Chopra, former White House chief technology officer under President Obama, discusses the youth social-media addiction trial against Meta and Alphabet. He calls the litigation a blunt accountability tool and argues platforms must adopt enforceable codes of conduct or face tougher regulation like the EU Digital Services Act. He also highlights X's algorithm transparency and feed choice, notes TikTok and Snap settled, and expects the broader case to set norms over months or years.

• Meta and Alphabet face trial over alleged addictive design of Instagram and YouTube.
• Chopra calls the trial a blunt instrument for accountability.
• He says self-governance and voluntary efforts have not worked.
• Platforms risk regulatory challenges like the EU Digital Services Act if they do not self-regulate.
• X's algorithm publication and feed choice create a legal and transparency divergence.
• TikTok and Snap settled; remaining cases may take months or years.
• Chopra favors private-sector enforceable codes over rigid laws or age bans.