Big Tech on Trial: Addiction Claims Against Instagram and YouTube

On February 9, 2026, opening statements opened a bellwether trial in Los Angeles that could redefine how courts treat the design of social media platforms. The plaintiff, identified as KGM, alleges prolonged exposure to Instagram and YouTube from childhood produced addictive behavior and severe mental-health consequences; if a jury accepts that claim, it may create a legal pathway for thousands of similar suits. The case has attracted intense attention because plaintiffs intend to pair behavioral science with troves of internal documents to show that engagement was prioritized over safety.

Plaintiffs' counsel contends that design elements — infinite scroll, autoplay, tailored recommendations and persistent notifications — were calibrated to exploit reward pathways in young brains, borrowing playbooks from slot machines and the tobacco industry, and that those elements were refined as companies chased ad revenue. Meta and YouTube maintain that their platforms have been improved with age-verification tools and parental controls, and they argue causation for mental illness is complex and multi-factorial; nevertheless, jurors will have to weigh technical evidence, witness testimony and company records to reach a verdict.

The trial may last six to eight weeks, and executives including top platform leaders are expected to testify, which could yield new public disclosures about product decisions. Although TikTok and Snap reached settlements with the plaintiff before trial, Meta and Google have chosen to contest liability in court, a decision that will be scrutinized if juries award damages or order design changes. Ultimately, the outcome may influence not only pending litigation but also regulatory debates and the future engineering trade-offs between growth and user safety.