Experts Offer 12 Tips to Cut Smartphone Screen Time as Meta, YouTube Paid $6 Million
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Experts Offer 12 Tips to Cut Smartphone Screen Time as Meta, YouTube Paid $6 Million
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Summary
12 expert-backed tactics were highlighted to curb doomscrolling, from scheduling screen-free periods and cutting notifications to keeping phones out of reach and switching displays to greyscale.
Built-in Apple and Android tools can track app use and set limits, while therapists and addiction specialists said physical barriers often work better because compulsive scrolling thrives on anticipation, rewards and constant prompts.
Specific options ranged from a rubber band around a phone to app blockers, Brick’s physical locking tile, detox-oriented smartphones and, for heavier users, even a dumbphone or a 72-hour digital detox.
Experts linked heavy phone use to low mood, sleep disruption, relationship strain and concentration problems, arguing that long-term improvement depends less on one-off detoxes than on rebuilding daily habits around technology.
The advice comes as concern over addictive design grows; in March, Meta and YouTube paid a combined $6 million after a US court found their platforms were designed to be addictive.
With tech giants now facing multi-million dollar fines, is the era of designing for addiction finally over?
Your phone is physically altering your brain's grey matter. How can you effectively reclaim your cognitive control?
As Gen Z leads a 'mass retreat from screens,' are we witnessing the dawn of a post-smartphone society?
2026 Jury Ruling: Meta and Google Face Historic Liability for Addictive Social Media Features Harming Children
Overview
In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury delivered a landmark verdict against Meta and YouTube, holding them liable for damages caused by their addictive design features. Central to the case was Kaley, who testified about how social media consumed her life, leading to diminished family engagement, anxiety, depression, and an obsession with her appearance. The court found that features like infinite scroll were intentionally designed to keep users hooked, especially young people. This verdict marks a major shift, challenging tech companies’ legal protections and setting a precedent for holding them accountable for the impact of their platforms on youth mental health.