"Three of the world's largest technology companies are set to face a landmark trial in Los Angeles this week, accused of deliberately addicting and harming children through their platforms. Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok, and Google's YouTube are named in the claims. Jury selection commences this week in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. This marks the first time these companies will argue their case before a jury, with the outcome potentially having profound effects on their businesses and how they manage child users."
"The selection process is expected to last several days, with 75 potential jurors questioned daily until Thursday. Snap Inc., parent company of Snapchat, also named in the lawsuit, settled last week for an undisclosed sum. 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."
Jury selection begins this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court for landmark lawsuits naming Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok, and Google's YouTube. The first jury trial could reshape how tech companies manage child users and affect business practices. Selection will question about 75 potential jurors daily through Thursday. Snap Inc. settled separately for an undisclosed sum. A 19-year-old plaintiff identified as KGM is a bellwether whose claims of early social media addiction, worsening depression, and suicidal thoughts could guide thousands of similar cases. The lawsuits allege deliberate design to addict children for profit and seek to avoid First Amendment and Section 230 protections. Tech companies deny deliberate harm.
Read at The Independent
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