For the first time, a group of parents, teens and school districts is taking on the world’s most powerful social media companies in open court, accusing them of intentionally designing addictive products. The landmark trial begins Tuesday in Los Angeles superior court, with hundreds of US families alleging that Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube harm children.
The plaintiffs claim that once young people become hooked, they suffer from depression, eating disorders, self-harm and other mental health issues. The proceedings involve approximately 1,600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and 250 school districts. Matthew Bergman, founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center and attorney for the plaintiffs, called the trial 'unprecedented'.
The first case involves a 19-year-old identified as KGM, who alleges she developed mental health issues after becoming addicted to social media. This is one of about 22 'bellwether' trials used to gauge jury reactions. Key witnesses may include CEOs Mark Zuckerberg, Evan Spiegel, Neal Mohan and Adam Mosseri.
Just before the trial, Snap and TikTok reached settlements with KGM, denying wrongdoing. Meta and YouTube have not settled. YouTube spokesperson José Castañeda called the allegations 'simply not true', saying the company prioritises a safer experience for young people. The plaintiffs seek financial damages and injunctive relief to change platform design and establish safety standards.
Lawyers are using a playbook similar to that used against tobacco companies, focusing on internal documents and public testimony about addictive features like infinite scroll and autoplay. Julia Duncan of the American Association for Justice said unsealed documents could show company employees admitting to addictiveness. If successful, the case could profoundly change how platforms are designed.
