Meta and YouTube Face Trial Over Social Media Addiction

Landmark Trial Begins Over Social Media Addiction: Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and YouTube (Alphabet/Google) are on trial in Los Angeles Superior Court starting Jan 27, 2026, over claims their platforms were designed to be addictive for children, contributing to serious mental health harms.

Plaintiff’s Story: Addiction From a Young Age: The plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., says she became dependent on Instagram and YouTube from age 10, despite parental controls, and developed anxiety, depression, and body image issues linked to constant engagement.

Key Allegations: Designed for Addiction: The lawsuit alleges platforms used infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic feeds to hook young users, creating “dopamine loops” and bypassing parental safeguards to boost engagement and profits.

Harmful Mental Health Impacts: According to court filings, extended use led to depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and body dysmorphia for the plaintiff, with internal research allegedly showing companies knew risks yet continued addictive designs.

Settlements and Ongoing Defenses: TikTok and Snapchat settled related claims before trial, but Meta and YouTube deny causation and argue they’ve invested in safety tools like parental controls and moderation, while invoking legal protections like Section 230.

Broader Context: Bellwether for Future Cases: This trial is the first of many similar lawsuits nationwide and could set legal precedent challenging tech companies’ legal defenses and impacting platform design standards and regulation.

Public and Policy Implications: The trial fuels debate among parents, educators, and policymakers about screen time risks, age-appropriate safeguards, and potential regulations aimed at protecting youth from harmful social media effects.

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