Meta Platforms, TikTok and YouTube are set to face a high-stakes trial this week in Los Angeles over allegations that their platforms are contributing to a youth mental health crisis. The case marks a turning point in the national debate over kids’ screen time and could reshape the legal landscape for Big Tech.
The trial in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, is a test case for thousands of similar lawsuits seeking damages for social media-related harms. If successful, the outcome could weaken the tech companies’ long-standing legal shield against liability.
The plaintiff, a 19-year-old California woman identified as K.G.M., claims she became addicted to the platforms at a young age due to their attention-grabbing design. She alleges that the apps fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts and is seeking to hold the companies responsible. Jury selection begins Tuesday.
This lawsuit is the first of several expected to reach trial this year focusing on what plaintiffs describe as “social media addiction” among children. It will be the first time the major tech companies must defend themselves in court over alleged harm caused directly by their products, according to plaintiff’s attorney Matthew Bergman.
A central issue in the case is a federal law that largely protects platforms such as Instagram and TikTok from legal liability for user-generated content. The tech companies argue that the law should shield them in K.G.M.’s case. But a verdict against the companies could crack that defense and signal that juries are willing to hold platforms directly accountable. Bergman said the issue could ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
“We are writing on a legal tabula rasa,” he told Reuters.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is expected to testify, with the company arguing that its products did not cause K.G.M.’s mental health struggles, according to Meta’s legal team. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel was also expected to testify, but Snap has since settled the lawsuit, according to a company statement. YouTube, meanwhile, plans to argue that its platform differs fundamentally from social media services like Instagram and TikTok and should not be grouped with them in court.
TikTok declined to comment on its planned legal strategy.
Battle for Public Opinion
As the trial begins, the companies are also intensifying efforts to shape public perception of their safety measures. They have launched tools aimed at giving parents greater control over teen usage and have invested heavily in promoting these features.
Since 2018, Meta has sponsored parent workshops on teen online safety at high schools across the U.S., including a 2024 event in Los Angeles. TikTok has run similar programs through partnerships with regional PTAs. YouTube’s parent company, Google, has collaborated with the Girl Scouts to promote digital safety education.
The companies have also retained high-profile legal teams known for defending corporations in addiction-related litigation. Meta hired attorneys who previously represented McKesson in opioid-related lawsuits, while TikTok’s counsel represented major gaming firms in disputes over addiction-related design.
“These companies are using every lever of influence that you can imagine,” said Julie Scelfo, founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction. “It can be very confusing for parents who to trust.”