Overview
- Opening arguments began in Los Angeles in a bellwether case brought by a plaintiff identified as K.G.M., who alleges Instagram and YouTube were deliberately engineered to addict young users and worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts.
- TikTok and Snap settled out of the Los Angeles case before trial, leaving Meta and Google’s YouTube as defendants in proceedings expected to run six to eight weeks with executives including Mark Zuckerberg anticipated to testify.
- In Santa Fe, New Mexico, state prosecutors opened their case alleging Meta’s algorithms and account features enticed youths and fostered a breeding ground for sexual exploitation, violating consumer-protection laws after an undercover investigation.
- Plaintiffs argue features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications and recommendation systems function like slot machines and mirror tobacco-era tactics, with the judge instructing jurors to assess platform design rather than third-party content.
- Meta and YouTube deny wrongdoing, cite youth-safety tools and parental controls, and contend teen mental health has complex causes, while a plaintiff win could influence thousands of related suits and pressure product design changes.