Social Media: When Algorithms Set Death Traps

A new documentary, 'Can't Look Away,' examines the dark side of social media and the fight of families against addiction. Australia is considering banning YouTube accounts for teens under 16, following previous bans on platforms like Snapchat and TikTok.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that social media causes social harm, while Communications Minister Anika Wells referred to 'predatory algorithms.' The documentary 'Can't Look Away' presents stories of families who lost their children due to social media. One of these is the story of Amy Neville, who found her 14-year-old son dead after he took a pill he bought through Snapchat that contained fentanyl.

The documentary also mentions the Roberts family case, whose 14-year-old daughter, Englyn, committed suicide after watching a hanging simulation video on Instagram. The documentary's creators point out that algorithms promote content that can lead to self-destruction. In 2022, social media raised $11 billion from advertisements targeted at minors.

The documentary also highlights the voices of whistleblowers, such as Arturo Bejar, a former Facebook and Instagram executive, who had internally pointed out the seriousness of the findings regarding unwanted sexual advances towards teenagers on Instagram. The film closes with a legal battle against Snapchat for its role in drug trafficking.