Big Tech on Trial: Addiction Claims Against Instagram and YouTube

Opening statements have begun in a landmark trial in Los Angeles that tests whether social media companies designed their products to be addictive. The case involves a plaintiff known as KGM, who says she became dependent on Instagram and YouTube at a young age and suffered depression and suicidal thoughts. Lawyers for the plaintiff argue that features such as infinite scroll, autoplay and algorithmic recommendations were engineered to increase engagement much like slot machines and cigarette companies did in the past. Meta and YouTube have denied wrongdoing, and both companies say they have worked to add protections for young users.

Although TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff before the trial, Meta and Google are proceeding to court. While the trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, jurors will be shown internal documents that the plaintiffs say reveal company knowledge of harms. Executives including Mark Zuckerberg and Neal Mohan are expected to testify, and the outcome may shape hundreds of related lawsuits. Since many families and school districts have brought similar claims, the verdict could influence platform design and legal strategy across the industry.