Dubai, UAE — Some of the world’s largest social media companies face a series of landmark trials this year seeking to hold them responsible for harm allegedly caused to children who use their platforms.
Opening statements in the first trial began on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Instagram parent company Meta and Google’s YouTube are facing claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm young users.
The case is the first of several lawsuits expected to go before juries in the United States as parents, school districts and regulators increase scrutiny of the role social media plays in children’s mental health.
Plaintiffs argue that features embedded in social media platforms — such as personalized feeds, notifications and engagement-driven algorithms — were designed to maximize user engagement and advertising revenue, particularly among young users.
Meta and YouTube have denied the allegations, saying they have implemented tools and policies aimed at improving safety for younger users and supporting parents who monitor children’s online activity.
The Los Angeles case centers on a young woman identified in court documents by the initials KGM, who alleges that extensive use of social media platforms from an early age led to addiction-like behavior and worsened mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
TikTok and Snap, which were initially named as defendants in the case, reached settlements with the plaintiff before the trial began, leaving Meta and YouTube as the remaining companies facing claims in court.
Legal experts say the trial is being closely watched because it may serve as a “bellwether” case for thousands of similar lawsuits filed across the United States.
In such proceedings, a limited number of test cases are heard first to gauge how juries respond to evidence and legal arguments before broader litigation continues.
The plaintiffs argue that social media companies knowingly designed products that could exploit young users’ psychology, contributing to mental health challenges, including anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm.
The companies reject those claims and say teen well-being is influenced by many factors beyond social media, including academic pressure, socioeconomic conditions and broader societal issues.
Executives from major technology companies are expected to testify during the proceedings, which could last six to eight weeks.
The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the technology industry, potentially shaping future litigation, regulatory efforts and how social media platforms design products used by millions of children worldwide.