All articles tagged with #addiction
Mary Cosby’s son Robert Cosby Jr.’s ex-wife, Alexiana Smokoff, has spoken out after his death at 23, saying she’s shaken and that many who knew him are saddened. Reports note Robert publicly battled addiction and had past legal issues including a protection-order violation that led to an earlier arrest. Mary has leaned on faith in a statement, and the Bravo community offered support as she continues filming RHOSLC amid the tragedy.
A 20-year-old plaintiff testifies in a bellwether suit against Meta and Instagram, alleging that social media use beginning around age 6 harmed her self-worth and development, with courtroom visuals recounting her experiences.
A 20-year-old plaintiff, identified as Kaley, testified that she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at 9, spending nearly all day on social media and saying it contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts. The bellwether case against Meta and YouTube (TikTok and Snap have settled) could influence thousands of similar lawsuits, with arguments over whether features like notifications and filters were designed to be addictive and whether Kaley’s mental-health issues predated her social-media use. The trial, which could last weeks, has wide implications for tech accountability and child-safety protections online.
In Los Angeles, a 20-year-old plaintiff testifies in a high-profile consolidated case against Meta (Instagram/Facebook) and YouTube, alleging addictive design and constant notifications harmed her mental health from childhood; the trial, first of about 20 bellwether cases among more than 1,600 plaintiffs, probes whether social platforms contributed to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, while Meta and YouTube deny liability and settlements with TikTok and Snap have been reached in related suits.
Robert Cosby Jr., the 23-year-old son of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby, died after an overdose, with police confirming a death investigation. He had previously spoken about his substance-use struggles on RHOSLC, including rehab and relapse. Mary and her husband issued a statement mourning their son, and Bravo and RHOSLC cast members extended their condolences.
Robert Cosby Jr., 23, the son of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby, died after an apparent overdose; police say a death investigation is underway. He had publicly discussed his drug addiction on the show, and Mary had urged him to seek help, though his sobriety did not last. The tragedy comes amid Mary’s high-profile status as a pastor and reality TV figure who has faced past church controversy.
Researchers warn that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) such as Coca-Cola–flavored Oreos are engineered to hijack the brain’s reward system, fueling cravings and overconsumption; they draw parallels with tobacco, urging stricter regulation, advertising limits, and clearer labeling to curb diet-related health risks.
At 70, Billy Idol looks back on a turbulent rise from London punk to MTV icon, detailing decades of excess, a heroin-fueled spiral, a near-fatal motorcycle accident, and a move to sobriety that reshaped his life as he promotes a new memoir and the documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead, while continuing to release music like the 2025 album Dream Into It and headlining major tours.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a Los Angeles courtroom at a landmark trial alleging that Instagram and YouTube use addictive features to keep teens scrolling. He said he never mandated higher “time spent” company-wide and later scrapped such goals in favor of milestones tied to user value, insisting under-13s are prohibited and steps are taken to remove them. The cross-examination highlighted an email about increasing time spent and internal documents showing underage users; experts warned of potential clinical addiction risks while defense argued the platforms offer social and educational benefits. The case is a bellwether among thousands of lawsuits against social media giants.
Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in a Los Angeles trial accusing Meta (and YouTube) of designing addictive social-media features that harmed a young user, Kaley, whose Instagram and YouTube use allegedly contributed to anxiety, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts. The testimony will probe what Meta knew about teen risks and whether safety measures were sufficient, as grieving families travel to attend; this case is the first in roughly 1,500 similar lawsuits challenging tech platforms for youth safety.
Giving up sugar for Lent can reveal how sugar acts on the brain’s reward system—driving dopamine signaling in the mesolimbic pathway, altering D1/D2 receptor balance and dopamine transport—similar to drugs of abuse; rodent studies show bingeing, withdrawal, and impulsivity; in humans, about 40 days off sugar may reset some neural sensitivity and reduce cravings, though effects vary by person.
A Rhode Island nonprofit’s Open Doors pilot is giving free weekly GLP-1 injections (semaglutide–based) to women in addiction recovery, with participants reporting reduced cravings, steadier thinking, and improved life stability. While some studies hint GLP-1s dampen the rewarding effects of drugs and alcohol, the medications are not FDA-approved for addiction and funding for the pilot runs for 18 months, raising questions about long-term access. Experts urge cautious optimism, noting risks if treatment is stopped and that this is not a universal cure.
TikTok agreed to settle a landmark social-media addiction lawsuit just before opening statements, as plaintiffs argued platforms addict children and the case was set to test the tech industry's accountability in court.
A California Superior Court trial accuses Instagram and YouTube of building “addiction machines” that harmed a minor’s mental health, with opening arguments citing internal emails and design choices; the defense argues the harms stem from the child’s home life, and the case could set a damages benchmark for similar lawsuits.
A Dear Abby reader reveals her husband’s slot-machine gambling drained about $600,000 of their savings, leaving the couple in their 80s bankrupt and reliant on their son who now controls their money. The wife is depressed by their situation, and Abby counsels discussing finances with the son to adjust his limited support rather than punishing the parents for the husband’s addiction. The column also includes discussion of a separate privacy dispute raised by another reader about home surveillance.