A landmark trial accusing major social media companies of harming children through addictive platform design has begun in Los Angeles, marking one of the most significant legal challenges facing the technology industry to date.
Opening arguments were heard in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Meta and Google’s YouTube are accused of deliberately engineering features that encourage compulsive use among young users. TikTok and Snap, which were initially named in the lawsuit, reached settlements with the plaintiff shortly before the trial began and are no longer defendants.
The case centres on a 20-year-old identified by the initials KGM, whose claims are being used as a bellwether, or test case, that could shape how thousands of similar lawsuits proceed across the United States.
Her legal team argues that she began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram at nine, eventually developing behaviour they describe as addiction that worsened into depression and suicidal thoughts. Plaintiffs claim platform features such as recommendation algorithms, notifications and "like" systems were intentionally designed to maximise engagement and increase advertising revenue.
During opening arguments, the plaintiff's lawyer told jurors the companies created machines designed to addict the brains of children, presenting internal emails, documents and research that he said showed awareness of risks faced by vulnerable young users. He also referenced internal communications comparing engagement features to casino style mechanics.
Meta and YouTube strongly deny that their products deliberately harm children or cause addiction. Lawyers for Meta told jurors the central question is whether social media was a substantial factor in the plaintiff’s mental health struggles.
The defence pointed to other issues in her background, including family conflict, bullying and existing psychological challenges, and said multiple healthcare providers never diagnosed her with social media addiction.
The companies also argue they have introduced safeguards, parental controls and protections for younger users, and maintain they cannot be held responsible for content created by third parties.
The proceedings are expected to last six to eight weeks, with testimony anticipated from senior executives including Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, as well as experts, former employees and family members connected to similar cases.
The outcome could influence potential damages and legal strategy in thousands of related lawsuits brought by parents, school districts and state authorities seeking to hold social media companies accountable for youth mental health harms.
Separate legal action is also underway in New Mexico, while dozens of state attorneys general have filed cases alleging that platform design contributes to the youth mental health crisis.
The trial comes amid growing international pressure on technology companies over their impact on children. Governments in several countries are considering or implementing stricter age limits and regulatory measures, including bans or tighter controls on younger users.
Legal experts say the case may test whether courts are willing to treat platform design choices, rather than user-generated content, as a source of liability, potentially challenging long-standing protections that have shielded technology companies from many lawsuits.
If the plaintiffs succeed, the ruling could force changes to algorithms, notifications and other engagement tools widely used across the social media industry.
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