The Trial Lawyer Spring 2022 | Page 96

by a carcinogen known as nitrosamine and no proof that Pfizer ’ s labels were misleading .
She said , because Pfizer had offered full rebates for unused Chantix , the damages to consumers were only for tablets that the plaintiffs consumed .
“ We continue to stand behind the safety and efficacy of Chantix , which has helped millions of Americans quit cigarette smoking ,” Pfizer said in a statement .
The original class action , filed August 2021 , was brought by lead plaintiff Roslyn Harris on behalf of herself and other Chantix users who were affected by a recall of 12 lots of the stop-smoking drug issued by Pfizer this summer .
Harris accused the drug maker of misrepresenting the safety of the product to consumers by failing to properly test Chantix for the “ carcinogenic impurity ” despite warnings from regulators .
She alleged she and other Chantix users would not have purchased the medication had they known it contained a cancer-causing impurity .
Social Media Companies Accused Of Creating Toxic Atmosphere For Youth
Some of the most popular social media sites have come under fire for putting profits ahead of their users ’ mental health and well-being .
Indeed , the CEOs of some of the top sharing platforms have been accused of creating a toxic environment for young users , increasing engagement at the cost of their mental health .
Young adults and teens , particularly women and girls , who use major social media sites reported feeling bad about themselves after using the platforms to company researchers in 2019 .
Researchers told higher-ups about the mental health problems affecting the rapidly growing teen base of a popular photo-sharing site at the time , but the reports were minimized , according to The Wall Street Journal .
In 2021 , a former employee of the largest social media platform blew the whistle on the company ’ s troubling practices , providing documents to regulators and law enforcement and also appearing on 60 Minutes to detail concerns she has about how social media platforms keep users engaged .
Now , social media companies face mounting evidence that they eschewed safety precautions for young users in the name of increased time spent on their platforms .
According to the Pew Research Center , more than 70 percent of Americans use social media . Social media use allows people to connect with others and entertain themselves , but research has shown that the endless scrolling has taken a toll on users ’ mental health .
In addition to grilling the CEOs of major social media companies , the government has noted its concerns about the effect of these platforms on young users .
“ Business models are often built around maximizing user engagement as opposed to safeguarding users ’ health and ensuring that users engage with one another in safe and healthy ways ,” states a 2021 report by the US Surgeon General on Youth Mental Health .
“ This translates to technology companies focusing on maximizing time spent , not time well spent .”
According to research conducted between 2015 and 2020 , heavy use of social media , up to nine hours a day as reported by some users , can trigger a sense of isolation , depression , and anxiety . Rather than making users feel more connected , research has found that social media use can actually distance them from friends and family . Users report feelings of missing out and a compulsion to check their social media feeds at the cost of in-person relationships .
Social media use has also been shown to disrupt sleep , resulting in depression and memory loss , says MedicalNewsToday .
Teen users of social media themselves have reported high rates of cyberbullying , up to 50 percent according to one study . These platforms can amplify toxic patterns , spreading abuse or destructive rumors far beyond someone ’ s immediate social circle , potentially leading to lasting harm .
Further , social media users , particularly young women and teen girls , report feeling worse about their bodies after viewing photo-sharing apps . Hours of viewing the highly edited and virtually impossible to obtain bodies of influencers may trigger eating disorders , body dysmorphia , and other mental health issues for users .
Hyundai Recalls 300 Vehicles After Exploding Seat Belt Part Causes Injury
Hyundai is recalling 354 of its 2020- 2021 Accent vehicles due to an exploding seat belt part that has caused injuries to car occupants .
In a recall notice posted by the National Highway Transport Safety Administration , Hyundai says that during a crash the front driver side or passenger side seat belt pretensioners of the Accent vehicles may explode .
“ An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle , striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury ,” the notice says .
The seat belt pretensioner is one of the most important parts of a seat belt system as it locks the belt in place in the event of a crash . However , a faulty pyrotechnic pretensioner could cause metal fragments to fly into the vehicle , which may result in injury to vehicle