COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN, ONLINE VERSION. CHEERS

Communication breakdown happens when online behemoths find themselves on the wrong side of a tech case.

Tech case? What else do you call instagram and YouTube but marvels of modern technology?

One way or another the two of them navigated through competition and mergers and acquisitions so some kid can take an endless scroll to what?

Addiction, brain damage, mental illness?

From Google AI:

 

A California jury found Meta (Instagram) and YouTube negligent on March 25, 2026, ordering them to pay $6 million in damages for creating addictive, harmful platforms.

The landmark case, brought by a woman addicted to the apps as a child, found the platforms designed features like infinite scroll to hook young users. 

 

I’m a fan of both instagram and YouTube, but not enough to scroll endlessly. Or at all.

The only time I spend on YouTube is for John Rossi videos, posted on Facebook, which is also Meta.

Still with me? And I’ve said nothing about tictok.

That’s the platform I lean into for guitar riffs and lessons and scales.

Wait, not tictok, my guitar inspirations come from Facebook reels.

How does anyone get addicted to social media?

 

Could It Be ? ? ? Lack Of Supervision?

Part of the educational process is learning what’s what.

To quote the movie Deer Hunter: ‘This is this.’

Social media in general may have had its Big Tobacco moment with the California jury.

More from Google AI:

 

The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) is a landmark, ongoing accord between 46 U.S. states, five territories, DC, and major tobacco companies. It requires manufacturers to pay over $200 billion in the first 25 years (and in perpetuity) to compensate for tobacco-related healthcare costs and restricts marketing, particularly targeting youth.

 

Back in the day my Dad would write a note to give Jess and Marie at the Roadside Grocery for a pack of cigarettes, and off we’d go.

Cigarettes were a part of growing up, with ashtrays, lighters, and a book of matches.

My Dad figured the stress of quitting smoking would be unhealthier than smoking.

My Mom tried to help by buying a pack and lighting up whenever he did, but she couldn’t keep up.

Something about nausea.

 

Cigarettes And Social Media Combined

Who are the experts recommending limits on social media?

Google AI says:

 

Limiting social media use boosts mental health, reducing anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Effective strategies include setting app time limits (e.g., Apple Screen Time, Android Digital Wellbeing), removing apps from phones, disabling notifications, and replacing screen time with hobbies like reading or walking. Consistent, small changes are key.

 

Like trying to lose weight, cut back on the booze, and finding new people to inflict your personality on, less social media time means breaking the momentum you’ve already built up.

Spark up a Pall Mall Commander, lean back in your scrolling posture, and let ‘er rip.

Or???

Communication breakdown occurs when someone in the group, or the person you’re talking to, starts their social media twitch.

You’re talking with rhythm, not scroll speed, and you stay on topic, which loses most addicts.

To them you seem slow and boring.

Maybe you’ve always been slow and boring, but it’s more important now than it ever has been.

 

PS:

When you see a man in shitface rambling on like a vinyl record skipping tracks, like a CD on the bounce, and call if riffing and expect an audience to accept it the way they accepted rap, you’ve got a problem bigger than a communication breakdown.

PSS:

Instead, look for someone who understands the medium of serious communication well enough to help the audience keep up without them knowing you’re helping.

Think of a song with a good beat and easy to dance to.

Break it down on one, two, three, four.

Be responsible for your own communication breakdown and do it better.