Landmark social media trials begin across the US this week. Here's what to know

"Meta, Instagram's parent company, and Google's YouTube are set to face claims their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. This follows TikTok and Snap, previously named in the lawsuit, settling for undisclosed sums. The social media addiction trials beginning today, which involve hundreds of parents and school districts, are "only the first case," with new families daily joining legal action against Big Tech for its "deliberately harmful products," stated Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project."

"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."

Landmark trials in Los Angeles this week will hold major social media companies accountable for alleged harm to child users, with opening arguments beginning in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Meta (Instagram) and Google (YouTube) face accusations that platforms were deliberately designed to addict and harm children; TikTok and Snap previously settled. Hundreds of parents and school districts are involved, and new families continue joining the litigation. A 19-year-old identified as 'KGM' is a central plaintiff and one of three bellwether plaintiffs whose cases will test arguments before a jury. Successful litigation could undermine First Amendment and Section 230 defenses and reshape platform practices toward children.

Read at The Independent