A high-profile trial in California has placed Meta Platforms and YouTube under intense scrutiny over allegations that their platforms were deliberately designed in ways that could foster addictive behaviour among children.
The case involves a 20-year-old plaintiff, identified in court as Kaley G.M., who is suing Meta — parent company of Facebook and Instagram — and Alphabet-owned YouTube. Her legal team argues that internal company documents demonstrate deliberate efforts to capture and retain young users’ attention.
“These companies built systems designed to hook children’s attention, and they did it knowingly,” the plaintiff’s lawyer told jurors during opening arguments.
Allegations and defence
The plaintiff alleges that prolonged exposure to social media from a young age contributed to severe mental health struggles, including depression. She is seeking damages for emotional distress and other losses.
Meta’s legal team has countered that multiple personal factors, including family circumstances, may have influenced her mental health. The company denies that its platforms were designed to cause harm. Google, which owns YouTube, has also denied the claims.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl instructed jurors that while technology companies are generally protected from liability for user-generated content under U.S. law, they may be held accountable for their own design and operational decisions.
Wider implications
The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching consequences for the technology sector. Meta, Google, TikTok and Snap are facing thousands of similar lawsuits across the United States alleging harm to minors.
Legal observers note that if the jury concludes that platform design — rather than user content — caused harm, it could reshape how courts interpret long-standing liability protections.
With Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify, the trial is anticipated to continue into March, potentially influencing future debates on digital platform responsibility and youth safety.