Arguments to begin in landmark social media addiction trial set in Los Angeles

"LOS ANGELES (AP) - The world's biggest social media companies face several landmark trials this year that seek to hold them responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Opening arguments for the first, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, begin this week. Instagram's parent company Meta and Google's YouTube will face claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children."

"At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials "KGM," whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials - essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury and what damages, if any, may be awarded, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow of technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute."

"KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Importantly, the lawsuit claims that this was done through deliberate design choices made by companies that sought to make their platforms more addictive to children to boost profits. This argument, if successful, could sidestep the companies' First Amendment shield and Section 230, which protects tech"

Landmark trials in Los Angeles will test claims that major social media platforms deliberately designed features to addict children and caused mental-health harms. Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube face allegations that design choices increased addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts among young users, while TikTok and Snap settled earlier. Bellwether trials center on a 19-year-old plaintiff identified as KGM and two others to assess liability, damages and broader implications for thousands of related suits. Plaintiffs argue intentional design aimed to boost profits and could evade First Amendment and Section 230 protections if courts accept the claims.

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