TikTok and Facebook bosses slammed after insisting sites aren't addictive

TikTok and Facebook bosses slammed after insisting sites aren't addictiveBosses at TikTok, Facebook and Instagram have denied their social media platforms are addictive amid growing outrage over a lack of action on protecting kids onlineCommentsNewsSophie Huskisson Political Correspondent15:34, 21 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesTech chiefs were told research had found five-year-olds were being groomed into livestreaming themselves on social media (Image: Getty Images)Bosses at TikTok, Facebook and Instagram have denied their platforms are addictive amid growing outrage over a lack of action on protecting kids online.‌Alistair Law, a director of public policy at TikTok, and Rebecca Stimson, who holds the same role at Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, today came under intense pressure from MPs on the Education Select Committee.‌A landmark US trial last month ruled Meta intentionally built addictive social media platforms. The tech giant is appealing the ruling. TikTok had also been a defendant in the case and reached an undisclosed settlement ahead of the trial.‌But bosses at the firms dismissed the notion their sites are addictive when asked directly by Lib Dem MP Caroline Voaden what they were doing to tackle the problem.Ms Stimson said: “We obviously are appealing that court case. So we don't also accept the premise that our platforms are addictive so I can't talk about that too much.” She pointed to other safety measures Meta has implemented including an algorithm reset, which she said had led to 50 million fewer hours online, or 15-minute app caps that can be set by parents.READ MORE: Keir Starmer makes urgent plea to dads over social mediaView 2 ImagesTikTok boss Alistair Law and Meta boss Rebecca Stimson were grilled by MPs on the Commons' education committee(Image: Parliment TV)‌“We are not intending for our platforms to be overconsumed by anyone and we've introduced a whole range of ways to try and prevent that,” she added.TikTok chief M...