Instagram and YouTube owners built ‘addiction machines’, trial hears
Tech giants Instagram and YouTube have come under scrutiny in a recent trial where it was alleged that the owners of the platforms built “addiction machines” to exploit users’ attention. The trial, which took place in a federal court in California, involved former Facebook product manager-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen.
Haugen claimed that the algorithms used by Instagram and YouTube are designed to prioritize content that triggers negative emotions to keep users engaged for longer periods. She argued that young people, in particular, were harmed by the platforms’ practices, leading to issues like low self-esteem and body image problems.
Facebook, which owns Instagram, and Google, which owns YouTube, have denied the allegations, stating that they prioritize the well-being of their users and have taken steps to address concerns related to harmful content and addiction. Both companies have emphasized their commitment to providing a safe and positive experience for users across their platforms.
The trial has sparked a larger conversation about the ethics of social media companies and their responsibility to regulate harmful content and protect users, especially vulnerable groups like children and teenagers. The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of big tech companies and their role in shaping online experiences.
Overall, the trial sheds light on the complex relationship between social media platforms and user behavior, raising important questions about the impact of technology on society and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the tech industry.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Instagram and YouTube owners built ‘addiction machines’, trial hears”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.