Overview
- Plaintiffs opened by arguing Meta and Google engineered features to hook young users because addiction drives ad revenue, in a trial expected to last six to eight weeks.
- The Los Angeles case centers on a 19-year-old identified as K.G.M., who says early use of Instagram and YouTube led to technology addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts.
- The suits target design choices such as infinite scroll, autoplay and algorithmic personalization rather than user content typically shielded by Section 230.
- Meta and Google deny wrongdoing, cite youth safety tools and research, and face arguments that a plaintiff win could weaken long‑standing legal protections for platforms.
- TikTok and Snap settled out of the LA case, as a separate New Mexico trial opened alleging Meta fostered a fertile ground for child sexual exploitation documented through undercover accounts.