A California state court on Monday opened a closely watched trial that could reshape how U.S. courts treat claims that social media platforms harm young users.
The case centers on whether Instagram and YouTube used addictive design features that damaged a woman’s mental health when she was a child. If the jury rules against the companies, it could weaken Big Tech’s long-standing legal defenses against claims of youth harm.
The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman identified in court records as K.G.M. She accuses Meta Platforms and Google of designing their apps to maximize user engagement while ignoring risks to minors. According to the complaint, she became addicted to the platforms at a young age and later suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts.
K.G.M. is seeking unspecified damages.
Thousands of similar lawsuits are pending in California state and federal courts. Plaintiffs include parents, school districts and state attorneys general. A loss in this case could influence how judges and juries assess claims that social media products are harmful by design.
Case tests limits of platform liability
Lawyers for K.G.M. plan to argue that the companies acted negligently. They say the platforms failed to warn users about addiction risks and that their design choices played a substantial role in her injuries. If the jury agrees, it could award compensatory damages and consider punitive damages.
Meta and Google deny responsibility. Their defense is expected to focus on other factors in the plaintiff’s life and on steps the companies say they have taken to improve youth safety. They also argue that U.S. law largely shields online platforms from liability for harm tied to user activity.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify for the defense. TikTok and Snap previously settled with K.G.M. and are not part of the trial.
The case unfolds alongside a broader legal push against social media companies. More than 2,300 related lawsuits are consolidated in federal court, where a judge is weighing whether legal protections apply before allowing trials to proceed.
Separately, New Mexico’s attorney general on Monday opened a trial accusing Meta of exposing children to sexual exploitation on its platforms.
The litigation wave reflects growing global pressure on social media companies over youth mental health. Several countries, including Australia and Spain, have moved to restrict social media access for users under 16.
