By Blessing Nweke
A closely watched trial that could reshape how the US legal system treats social media companies begins on Tuesday in California, with some of the world’s most powerful tech executives expected to testify.
The case, filed at Los Angeles Superior Court, was brought by a 19-year-old woman identified only as KGM. She alleges that the design of social media platforms’ algorithms left her addicted to their apps and caused serious harm to her mental health, including depression and eating disorders. The defendants include Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, TikTok parent company ByteDance, and Google, the owner of YouTube. Snapchat reached a settlement with the plaintiff last week and is no longer part of the case.
Legal experts say the lawsuit is the first of its kind to reach a jury and could open the door to a wave of similar claims across the US. At the heart of the dispute is whether tech firms can be held responsible not for user-generated content, but for the design features—such as recommendation algorithms, notifications and infinite scrolling—that critics say encourage compulsive use.
For decades, technology companies have relied on Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which largely shields platforms from liability for content posted by third parties. However, the plaintiff’s lawyers argue that this protection should not extend to deliberate product design choices that allegedly promote addictive behaviour, particularly among young users.
KGM’s attorney, Matthew Bergman, says the trial will force companies to explain their internal decisions to a jury for the first time. He argues profits were prioritised over the wellbeing of children and teenagers worldwide.
The companies deny the claims, saying the evidence does not prove their products caused the alleged harms. Meta has said it has introduced numerous safety tools for young users.
Among the most anticipated witnesses is Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, whose testimony is expected early in the trial. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry as governments and regulators worldwide increase scrutiny of social media’s impact on youth mental health.
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