TechnologyFebruary 10, 2026

Big Tech on Trial: Addiction Claims Against Instagram and YouTube

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

addicted/əˈdɪk.tɪd/

unable to stop using something

"She felt addicted to her phone."

autoplay/ˈɔː.təˌpleɪ/

a feature that plays the next video automatically

"The video app has autoplay on."

trial/traɪəl/

a legal process to decide a case in court

"The trial began in Los Angeles."

Listening

Big Tech on Trial: Addiction Claims Against Instagram and YouTube

A landmark trial began in Los Angeles on February 9, 2026. A woman called KGM says Instagram and YouTube made apps that hooked children and harmed her mental health.

Plaintiffs' lawyers say the companies used features such as infinite scroll, autoplay and tailored recommendations to keep young people online. Meta and YouTube say the claims are wrong and that they work to protect teens. TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before the trial. Lawyers say internal company documents may come into court. The trial may last six to eight weeks and could affect many similar cases. The jury will decide.

101 words

Quiz

1. Where did the trial begin?

2. When did the trial begin?

3. Which two platforms are named in the article?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you use video or photo apps every day? How much time do you spend on them?

Have you ever tried to stop using a social app and found it hard? What happened?

What do you think when you hear that apps may be designed to keep you watching?