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Social media giants Meta and Google are heading to court this week in the first of several landmark trials that could fundamentally reshape how tech companies interact with young users. Opening arguments begin in Los Angeles County Superior Court where the platforms face allegations they deliberately designed addictive features that harm children’s mental health.
The initial case centers on a 19-year-old plaintiff identified only as “KGM,” who claims her early social media use led to addiction, worsening depression, and suicidal thoughts. Her case serves as a bellwether trial that could determine the trajectory for thousands of similar lawsuits pending against major tech companies.
Instagram parent Meta and YouTube owner Google will defend against claims that they intentionally engineered their platforms to hook young users for profit. TikTok and Snap, originally named in the lawsuit, have already reached confidential settlements.
“This was only the first case — there are hundreds of parents and school districts in the social media addiction trials that start today,” said Sacha Haworth, executive director of the nonprofit Tech Oversight Project.
The lawsuit’s central argument aims to circumvent traditional legal protections for tech platforms. Rather than focusing on harmful content—which would likely be shielded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and First Amendment protections—the plaintiffs are targeting the platforms’ design elements.
“Borrowing heavily from the behavioral and neurobiological techniques used by slot machines and exploited by the cigarette industry, Defendants deliberately embedded in their products an array of design features aimed at maximizing youth engagement to drive advertising revenue,” the lawsuit states.
Legal experts have drawn parallels to the Big Tobacco litigation of the 1990s, which resulted in a historic 1998 settlement requiring cigarette companies to pay billions for healthcare costs and restrict marketing to minors. The trial, expected to last six to eight weeks, will feature testimony from high-profile executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The tech companies strongly dispute these allegations. Meta argued in a recent blog post that blaming social media companies for teen mental health issues “oversimplifies a serious issue” and ignores “the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today, like academic pressure, school safety, socio-economic challenges and substance abuse.”
A Meta spokesperson emphasized the company’s “longstanding commitment to supporting young people,” while Google spokesperson José Castañeda stated that allegations against YouTube are “simply not true,” adding that “providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work.”
This Los Angeles trial represents just the beginning of a wave of legal challenges facing social media companies. A federal bellwether trial scheduled for June in Oakland will be the first to represent school districts suing platforms over alleged harms to students.
Additionally, more than 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, claiming its platforms contribute to the youth mental health crisis. TikTok faces similar legal challenges in over a dozen states.
In a separate but related case, opening arguments begin Monday in New Mexico, where Meta faces allegations of failing to protect young users from sexual exploitation. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed the lawsuit following an undercover online investigation, claiming internal Meta documents revealed approximately 100,000 children daily are subjected to sexual harassment on the company’s platforms.
The outcome of these cases could have profound implications for social media companies’ business models and how they manage younger users. If successful, the lawsuits could force significant changes to platform design, impose substantial financial penalties, and establish new legal precedents for holding tech companies accountable for user well-being.
As these trials unfold, they reflect growing societal concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health and increasing momentum for regulatory intervention in an industry that has largely operated with limited oversight for decades.
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12 Comments
The allegations that social media companies intentionally engineered addictive features to maximize profits are certainly concerning. I hope this trial leads to more responsible practices and protections for vulnerable users.
Agreed. Tech companies should prioritize user wellbeing over profits, especially when it comes to young people’s mental health.
Interesting case highlighting the potential harms of social media addiction, especially for young users. I’m curious to see how the tech giants respond and what the courts decide.
Indeed, this trial could have major implications for how these platforms design and operate their services in the future.
Kudos to the plaintiffs for taking on these tech giants. Even if the legal case is challenging, raising awareness of this issue is valuable.
Absolutely. Win or lose, this trial will likely spur further public discourse and potential policy changes.
While social media addiction is a serious issue, I’m skeptical that these companies can be held legally liable. Proving intentional design to hook users will be a high bar for the plaintiffs to clear.
That’s a fair point. The legal arguments will be complex, and the outcome could set an important precedent.
This trial is an important step in addressing the mental health impacts of social media, but I wonder if legislative reforms might be a more effective long-term solution.
Good observation. Regulatory changes could compel more transparency and user protections across the industry.
As someone who has seen the negative impacts of social media firsthand, I’m hopeful this trial will lead to meaningful reform. These platforms need to be held accountable.
I agree. The wellbeing of young users should come before profits and growth at all costs.