Social media was humanity’s ‘first contact’ moment with AI. If we’re going to create laws that are strong enough to prevent AI from destroying our societies, we could benefit from taking a look at the major lawsuits against social media platforms that are playing out in our courts right now.In our last episode, we took a close look at Big Food and its dangerous “race to the bottom” that parallels AI. We continue that theme this week with an episode about litigating social media and the consequences of the race to engagement in order to inform how we can approach AI harms. Our guest, attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett, left her predominantly defense-oriented practice to join the Social Media Victims Law Center in February 2022. Laura is literally on the front lines of the battle to hold social media firms accountable for the harms they have created in young people’s lives for the past decade. Listener warning: there are distressing and potentially triggering details within the episode.Correction: Tristan refers to the Social Media Victims Law Center as a nonprofit legal center. They are a for-profit law firm.RECOMMENDED MEDIA 1) If you're a parent whose child has been impacted by social media, Attorneys General in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Tennessee are asking to hear your story. Your testimonies can help ensure that social media platforms are designed safely for kids. For more information, please visit the respective state links.ColoradoNew HampshireTennessee2) Social Media Victims Law CenterA non-profit legal center that was founded in 2021 in response to the testimony of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen3) Resources for Parents & EducatorsOverwhelmed by our broken social media environment and wondering where to start? Check out our Youth Toolkit plus three actions you can take today4) The Social DilemmaLearn how the system works. Watch and share The Social Dilemma with people you care aboutRECOMMENDED YUA EPISODES Transcending the Internet Hate Game with Dylan MarronA Conversation with Facebook Whistleblower Frances HaugenBehind the Curtain on The Social Dilemma with Jeff Orlowski-Yang and Larissa RhodesYour Undivided Attention is produced by the Center for Humane Technology. Follow us on Twitter: @HumaneTech_

Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood, discusses a critical Supreme Court case threatening reproductive rights and its effects on healthcare access. Edgar Franks, political director of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, shares the harrowing story of an immigrant organizer detained by ICE, revealing the struggles faced by farmworkers. Attorney Laura Marquez Garrett highlights the urgent issue of social media harm to children, emphasizing the need for accountability from tech companies after tragic incidents linked to addiction and mental health crises.

Laura Marquez-Garrett, a lawyer with the Social Media Victims Law Center, and Matthew O’Neill, co-director of the documentary 'Can’t Look Away,' tackle the darker side of social media. They share disturbing revelations from whistleblowers about the tragic consequences faced by children due to corporate negligence. The conversation highlights issues like sextortion targeting vulnerable youth and the addictive nature of platforms that can lead to mental health risks. They stress the urgent need for reform and accountability in the tech industry.