A high-stakes social media trial has officially commenced in a California court, with tech giants Meta and Google-owned YouTube facing serious accusations of designing platforms that foster addiction among children. The case, now before a Los Angeles jury, could set a major legal precedent on whether social media companies intentionally engineered their apps to keep young users hooked, despite potential harm to their mental wellbeing.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lanier, in his opening statement, argued that the corporations deliberately created addictive digital environments targeting minors. Using visual props in court, Lanier claimed the platforms were built to capture and hold children’s attention, describing the business model as “addiction by design.” Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, strongly rejected the allegations. Defense lawyer Paul Schmidt told jurors that the mental health struggles of the lead plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley G.M., were linked to personal and environmental factors, including family challenges and bullying, rather than Instagram use.
Schmidt further argued that the medical records presented in evidence did not cite social media addiction as a clinical diagnosis. The lawsuit centers on claims that Kaley developed harmful patterns of social media use from a young age, leading to severe mental health impacts. Her case is being treated as a bellwether trial, meaning its outcome could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits filed across the United States. Social media companies are currently battling numerous legal actions alleging their platforms contribute to depression, eating disorders, and other psychological harms among young users.
Legal teams representing victims are drawing comparisons to past litigation against tobacco companies, where firms were accused of knowingly marketing harmful products. During proceedings, it was revealed that Kaley began consuming YouTube content at just six years old. Plaintiffs argue that parents were never adequately warned about the addictive nature of platform algorithms or the risks posed to developing minds. Advocacy groups involved in the litigation say this marks the first time a social media company has faced a jury trial over alleged harm to children.
Tech firms, however, maintain they are protected under Section 230 of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from liability over user-generated content. The plaintiffs counter that the case focuses not on content, but on platform design and algorithmic amplification. YouTube representatives have dismissed the allegations as false, while both companies point to recent safety features introduced to protect younger users. Notably, Snapchat and TikTok were initially listed as defendants but reached undisclosed settlement agreements before the trial began.
Meanwhile, additional lawsuits, including one filed in New Mexico accusing Meta of prioritizing profits over child safety, are also moving through U.S. courts, signaling mounting legal pressure on the social media industry.
