High School Senior Claims Social Media Algorithms Led To An Eating Disorder

Cece is a high school senior who says she was around 12 when she became addicted to social media. She claims that social media algorithms took her down a “dark rabbit hole,” which led to an eating disorder, and that social media companies are “pushing these posts that taught me purging, how to cut back on calories, and how to work out excessively.” Cece’s mother, Candace, claims, “Many social media companies do know that their products are harmful to kids, and they do use the fact that they’re children and their brains aren’t fully developed as an avenue to get them addicted to their product.” Last year Cece and Candace filed a lawsuit against one social media giant accusing it of “causing and contributing to the growing mental health crisis among children and teens.” What changes do they say they want to see come from their litigation? This episode of Dr. Phil, “Triggered: Is Social Media Pushing Girls to Self-Harm?” airs Tuesday. And later, Dr. Phil talks with Matthew Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims’ Law Center (SMVLC), who says his mission is to hold social media companies legally accountable for harm he claims they inflict on vulnerable users. Check your local listing for airtimes. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Life in crisis?