Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Delhi High Court PIL Challenges Addictive Social Media Design Features
A law professor has asked the Delhi High Court to examine how social media apps are designed.
He is concerned that features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay may encourage people to keep using the apps.
He says the main problem is not the content people see.
Instead, he points to design choices that maximize user engagement.
His petition asks the court to create a committee of experts.
The committee would study whether these features can lead to addiction.
The case was heard by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
Justice Karia stepped aside, so another bench will hear the case next week.
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Delhi High Court over potentially addictive social media design features.
The petition seeks an expert committee to examine engagement-maximising and addiction-causing features on social media platforms.
Examples cited in the plea include infinite scrolling and autoplay.
Petitioner Vikas Kathuria said the concern is the platforms’ design, rather than the content they carry.
Justice Tejas Karia recused himself from the case, which will be heard next week by another bench.
- Who
- Vikas Kathuria, a professor of law at BML Munjal University, filed the petition before the Delhi High Court.
- What
- A Public Interest Litigation seeks an expert committee to examine potentially addictive social media design features.
- When
- The case will be heard next week by another bench.
- Where
- The Delhi High Court in Delhi.
- Why
- The petition raises concerns that features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay maximize engagement and may cause addiction.
- Case type
- Public Interest Litigation
- Court
- Delhi High Court
- Petitioner
- Vikas Kathuria
- Requested action
- Constitution of an expert committee
- Features cited
- Infinite scroll and autoplay
- Focus of concern
- Engagement-maximising and addiction-causing platform design
- Next hearing
- Next week before another bench