Is Big Tech Responsible for a Youth Mental Health Crisis?

Is Big Tech Responsible for a Youth Mental Health Crisis?

From Beneath the Law by Stories and Strategies

February 17, 2026 · 33 min · Season 1 · Episode 62

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of social media on youth mental health and the legal responses to it.

Send us Fan Mail Is social media the new Big Tobacco or is it simply the price of living in a hyper connected world? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive into the mounting legal and societal backlash against social media giants like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat, exploring whether these platforms are fueling a youth mental health crisis—and if governments and courts can do anything about it. From Australia’s sweeping ban on social media for children under 16 to Canada’s proposed legis...

People in this episode

Host: Gavin Tighe

Guest: Stephen Thiele

Topics covered

  • youth mental health
  • social media
  • Big Tech
  • legal issues
  • government regulation
  • societal impact

Keywords

  • mental health crisis
  • social media regulation
  • youth
  • Big Tobacco comparison
  • legal backlash
  • hyper connected world

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Meta, TikTok, Snapchat

Places: Australia, Canada

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