Meta Platforms, TikTok and YouTube will go on trial this week over claims that their platforms fuel youth addiction and harm mental health. The case marks a new phase in the debate over children’s screen time and social media use.
The bellwether trial will take place at the California Superior Court in Los Angeles County. It involves a 19-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., according to court filings.
K.G.M. alleges she became addicted to the platforms at a young age due to their attention-grabbing design. She says the apps worsened her depression and triggered suicidal thoughts. She is asking the court to hold the companies liable.
Her lawsuit is the first of several expected to reach trial this year. These cases focus on what plaintiffs describe as “social media addiction” among children.
Plaintiff’s lawyer, Matthew Bergman, said the case will force the companies to defend their products in court for the first time. He told Reuters the scrutiny will exceed what tech executives face during congressional hearings.
Jurors will determine whether the companies acted negligently by offering products that harmed K.G.M.’s mental health. They will also assess whether her app use played a substantial role in her depression compared with other factors, including third-party content and offline experiences.
Media lawyer Clay Calvert of the American Enterprise Institute described the case as a test of new legal theories. He said the trial will show how courts respond to claims linking platform design directly to harm.
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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify. Meta’s lawyers argue that the company’s products did not cause K.G.M.’s mental health challenges.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was also expected to testify before Snap settled the lawsuit on January 20.
YouTube plans to argue that its platform differs from social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok and should not face the same legal treatment. TikTok declined to comment on its court strategy.
As the trial begins, the companies have stepped up efforts to shape public opinion. They say they now offer tools that give parents greater control over how teens use their platforms.
Since 2018, Meta has sponsored parent workshops on teen online safety at U.S. high schools. In 2024, the company hosted a “Screen Smart” event in Los Angeles with National PTA President Yvonne Johnson and Meta safety chief Antigone Davis.
TikTok has backed similar parent sessions through its “Create with Kindness” programme. The initiative works with local and regional PTAs and includes tutorials on screen-time limits.
Google, YouTube’s parent company, has partnered with the Girl Scouts to promote digital safety. Participants earn a Google-branded patch after lessons on online privacy, strong passwords and responsible internet use.
High-Profile Legal Teams
The companies have hired lawyers with experience in major addiction-related litigation. Meta retained attorneys from Covington & Burling who previously worked on opioid cases.
TikTok’s legal team has represented companies in disputes involving video game design and addiction.
Julie Scelfo, founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, said the combined legal and public relations push can confuse parents. “These companies are using every lever of influence you can imagine,” she said.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
