"Three of the biggest social media companies on the planet - Instagram and Facebook owner Meta, YouTube owner Google and TikTok owner ByteDance - are preparing for a landmark trial that may forever change the social media landscape. The Los Angeles trial, which starts this week, claims that the three platforms deliberately addict and harm children. The jury selection process will take place this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court and is expected to take a few days."
"The lawsuit hinges around "KGM," a 19-year-old only identified by her initials. KGM states that using social media from an early age led to her becoming addicted to the platforms and experiencing both depression and suicidal thoughts. Central to the suit is the claim that these platforms deliberately made design decisions to make their products addictive to children while maximizing profits."
The Los Angeles trial will begin with jury selection this week, where 75 potential jurors will be questioned and proceedings are expected to last several days. The lawsuit centers on three plaintiffs, including a 19-year-old identified as KGM, who says early social media use caused addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Plaintiffs allege Meta, Google, and ByteDance intentionally designed features to addict children and maximize profits. If successful, the case could undermine long-standing legal protections such as the First Amendment and Section 230. Snap settled separately; Meta, Google, and ByteDance will face a jury for the first time.
Read at TheWrap
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