Ripple effect: Social media addiction has been a subject of public debate for years, but time spent on apps like TikTok and Instagram keeps climbing. Meta has now confirmed it's using AI to personalize the Instagram feed, and that shift is driving a sharp increase in the amount of time users spend on the platform. During its Q2 2026 earnings call, Meta said its latest Reels ranking update, the largest one to date, drove a 15-basis-point increase in Instagram sessions. The number of "reshares" has also increased significantly, suggesting the app is doing a better job of surfacing content users actually want to see. The lawsuits allege that, in pursuit of greater profits, Meta ignored internal studies indicating Instagram could harm teenagers' mental health.