Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media follows a team of lawyers battling Meta, TikTok, and Snap, fighting for families whose children suffered devastating harm—suicide, drug overdose, and exploitation—linked to social media. Directed by Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz and based on Bloomberg News’ investigative reporting by Olivia Carville, the feature documentary exposes the real-world consequences of tech companies’ digital practices and widespread concerns over harmful algorithms.
“Aesthetically, we chose a restrained visual language – long takes, close frames, and natural light – to reflect the rawness of the subject matter and the emotional intimacy of our access,” notes the filmmaking team. “Our editing structure follows a legal and emotional arc, balancing clarity around the legal strategy with the deeply personal experiences that fuel it. Through analysis of internal documents – many leaked by whistleblowers – we visualized the causal links between platform design and harm. Olivia Carville’s original investigative reporting provides a journalistic backbone; the lived experiences of the families give the film its heart.
“Our relationship to this subject is both professional and personal. As filmmakers who have long documented issues at the intersection of public health and technology, we felt an urgent responsibility to tell this story. But we are also parents, uncles, aunts, and siblings—and we carry into this work a shared concern about the digital lives of the people we love.”
Through emotional testimonies and high-stakes legal battles, the Can’t Look Away explores the tension between corporate profit and child safety, highlighting systemic failures that leave young users vulnerable. As families seek justice, the film underscores the urgent need for industry reform and serves as both a wake-up call about the dangers of social media—and a call to action to protect future generations.
