Social Media Platforms Face Landmark Trial Over Teen Addiction Claims

A pivotal trial opens in California Superior Court as Meta Platforms, TikTok, and YouTube face allegations of designing addictive features that harmed a 19-year-old plaintiff's mental health. The case represents the first legal reckoning for tech companies over such claims, with potential ramifications for future litigation.

Plaintiff K.G.M. asserts these platforms' attention-capturing mechanisms led to depression and suicidal ideation during her adolescence. The jury must determine whether the companies acted negligently and whether platform design—rather than third-party content or offline circumstances—was the primary cause of harm.

Matthew Bergman, representing the plaintiff, emphasizes the unprecedented scrutiny facing these firms. Unlike congressional hearings, courtroom proceedings demand direct accountability for alleged product harms. The outcome could set precedents for dozens of similar cases involving youth social media addiction slated for trial this year.