It is no fluke that social media platforms are addictive and causing harm. They were designed that way

‘This week a court in New Mexico and another in Los Angeles determined that social media platforms were legally responsible for harms caused to users,’ Van Badham writes. Photograph: Hispanolistic/Getty Images

A disdain towards the notion of “consequence” somewhat defines the contemporary western moment of the powerful. So two recent US court decisions that are adverse to the interests of – oh my god, would you believe it? – tech companies should be heralded to the full height of every sky.

Within days of each other this week, a court in New Mexico and another in Los Angeles determined that social media platforms were legally responsible for harms caused to users.