How Lawsuits Seek to Make Social Media Safer for Kids: QuickTake

Young people spend a lot of time on social media despite mounting evidence that it’s not good for them, with health experts pointing to harms ranging from lost sleep and eating disorders to suicide. Internal records of companies that run the most popular platforms are the centerpiece of a fast-growing pile of lawsuits that accuse them of knowingly hooking kids before they even reach their teens. The suits face multiple obstacles, starting with the 1996 law that gives internet platforms broad immunity from harmful content posted by users.

1. Who’s suing, and why?

Children, adolescents and young adults — ...