2/18/2026 | USA | world | ✓ Verified - pbs.org

After son's suicide, mother says social media platforms are built to addict children

#Social media addiction #Youth mental health #Online safety #Tech accountability #Parent advocacy #Digital harm #Suicide prevention #Social media lawsuits

📌 Key Takeaways

Maureen Molach's son died by suicide in 2016 after struggles with social media
She co-founded Parents for Safe Online Spaces to advocate against harmful platforms
The coalition represents families bringing lawsuits against social media companies
Molach claims platforms are designed to addict children through psychological manipulation
Her advocacy highlights growing concerns about social media's impact on youth mental health

📖 Full Retelling

Maureen Molach, whose son David died by suicide in 2016, is now advocating against social media platforms as the co-founder of Parents for Safe Online Spaces, a coalition of families who have lost children to online harms and are bringing similar lawsuits, speaking with Ali Rogin about the dangers these platforms pose to children. Molach's personal tragedy has transformed her into a vocal critic of what she describes as the addictive design of social media platforms, particularly their impact on vulnerable young users. While she is not directly involved in the current legal case being tried, her organization represents numerous bereaved parents seeking accountability from tech companies they claim failed to protect children from harmful content and exploitative features. The coalition's efforts reflect a growing movement of families who believe social media companies prioritize profit over user safety, especially when it comes to designing features that deliberately capture and maintain children's attention through psychological manipulation.

🏷️ Themes

Mental health, Corporate responsibility, Digital safety, Parental advocacy

📚 Related People & Topics

Problematic social media use

Proposed medical diagnosis related to overuse of social media

Excessive use of social media can lead to problems including impaired functioning and a reduction in overall wellbeing, for both users and those around them. Such usage is associated with a risk of mental health problems, sleep problems, academic struggles, and daytime fatigue. Psychological or beha...

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Internet safety

# Internet Safety **Internet safety**—also referred to as **online safety**, **cyber safety**, or **e-safety**—encompasses the policies, practices, and technical processes designed to mitigate risks and reduce harms facilitated by the misuse of the Internet. ### Core Objectives The primary goal of...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Problematic social media use:

👤 Mark Zuckerberg 2 shared

🌐 Meta 2 shared

🌐 KGM 1 shared

🌐 Bellwether trial 1 shared

🏢 Meta Platforms 1 shared

View full profile

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

Maureen Molach’s testimony highlights the urgent need to address how social media platforms are designed to keep children engaged, potentially contributing to harmful outcomes. Her story underscores the broader concern that digital environments may be engineered for addiction, raising questions about corporate responsibility and child safety.

Context & Background

Maureen Molach lost her son David to suicide in 2016
She co‑founded Parents for Safe Online Spaces, a coalition of families affected by online harms
The coalition is filing lawsuits against social media companies for contributing to online risks

What Happens Next

The lawsuits are currently on trial, and their outcomes could prompt stricter regulations on content moderation and user engagement features. If successful, the cases may force platforms to adopt safer design practices and increase transparency about how they target young users.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Parents for Safe Online Spaces?

It is a coalition of families who have lost children to online harms, advocating for safer digital environments and legal accountability.

How could these lawsuits affect social media companies?

They could lead to changes in platform policies, increased safety measures for minors, and potential financial penalties for failing to protect users.

Original Source

              Maureen Molach lost her son, David, in 2016 when he died by suicide. She is the co-founder of Parents for Safe Online Spaces, a coalition of families who have lost children to online harms and are bringing similar lawsuits. She is not a plaintiff in the case currently on trial. Ali Rogin spoke with Molach about social media's risks to children.
            

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Source

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