A public interest litigation has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking the constitution of an expert committee to examine social media features such as infinite scroll and autoplay, which the petitioner claims are designed to maximise user engagement and can contribute to addictive patterns of use. The petition focuses on the way social media platforms are designed rather than the specific content they carry. The plea argues that certain features built into these applications can encourage users to remain on the platforms for extended periods.

The PIL came up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia. During the proceedings, Justice Karia recused himself from hearing the matter. Following his recusal, the petition will now be placed before another bench for consideration next week. The court’s further proceedings are expected to determine how the plea will be taken forward and whether the issues raised require examination by an expert panel.

According to the petitioner, the central concern is not primarily about the type of material available on social media platforms but about the underlying architecture of these applications. Features such as infinite scroll allow users to continuously browse content without reaching a natural stopping point, while autoplay automatically begins subsequent videos or other content. The petitioner has argued that such design choices can encourage prolonged engagement and may contribute to compulsive or addictive use of social media services.

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The plea seeks an expert assessment of these engagement-maximising mechanisms and their potential effects on users. The proposed committee would examine the design features used by social media platforms and consider whether safeguards or regulatory measures are required. The petition places particular emphasis on the distinction between regulating content and examining the technological design of platforms, arguing that the latter can influence user behaviour irrespective of what specific posts, videos or other material are being viewed.

The petition comes amid wider concerns over the growing amount of time people spend on social media applications and the role of platform design in retaining users. Infinite scrolling and autoplay are widely used features across digital platforms because they make it easier for users to move from one piece of content to another without actively selecting each item. The petitioner has raised the issue of whether such mechanisms should be subject to greater scrutiny when they are alleged to encourage excessive or compulsive engagement.

With Justice Karia having recused himself, the matter is expected to be heard by another Delhi High Court bench next week. The court will then consider the petitioner’s request for an expert committee and examine the issues raised in the PIL. Any directions from the court could potentially lead to a broader discussion about the design of social media platforms, user protection and the responsibilities of technology companies in addressing features alleged to encourage addictive patterns of use.

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