Landmark Trial Opens in Los Angeles, Accusing Social Media Giants of Addictive Design
– A civil trial began Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that YouTube and Instagram were intentionally designed to addict young users, potentially opening the door to billions in damages and reshaping how social media companies interact with their youngest audiences.
The case centers around Kaley G.M., a woman from Chico, California, who claims she became addicted to social media as a grade schooler. Her lawsuit alleges that YouTube and Instagram employed design flaws that knowingly created a dangerous and addictive environment for children. Attorneys for Kaley and her mother argue the platforms are akin to “digital casinos,” utilizing features like endless scrolling to trigger dopamine responses and foster compulsive use.
“This case is about two of the richest corporations who have engineered addiction in children’s brains,” Kaley’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, stated in his opening argument, as reported by CNN. Lanier presented the platforms’ “swipe” function as a parallel to a slot machine handle, suggesting that the constant pursuit of mental stimulation drives addiction.
The trial is considered a bellwether case, with the potential to influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits currently pending in state and federal courts. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl has cautioned the 18 jurors and alternates against discussing the case, even with their own therapists, given its sensitive nature and far-reaching implications.
Both TikTok and Snap have already settled similar claims for undisclosed sums, avoiding trial. Meta, the parent company of Instagram and YouTube, owned by Google, are vigorously defending themselves, arguing that internal documents have been misrepresented to portray them negatively. Meta’s attorney, Paul Schmidt, reportedly pointed to Kaley’s health records, citing a history of verbal and physical abuse and early therapeutic intervention.
Lanier, however, presented a 2015 email from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in which he reportedly demanded a 12% increase in “time spent” on Meta platforms to meet internal business goals. He also argued that YouTube intentionally targeted younger users, knowing they could generate higher advertising revenue compared to those on YouTube Kids.
The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to warn users about the potential dangers of their platforms’ design. Lanier described the platforms as “addiction machines,” displaying blocks with the words “Addicting,” “Brains,” and “Children” to emphasize his point.
The trial is expected to feature testimony from key executives, including Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. Parents and safety advocates are closely watching the proceedings, hoping for a landmark ruling that will lead to greater online safety measures for children. Pictures of children whose deaths were attributed to social media harms were placed in front of the federal courthouse in Los Angeles on , underscoring the gravity of the allegations.
The outcome of this case could significantly alter the legal landscape for social media companies and their youngest users, potentially leading to increased regulation and a greater emphasis on user safety.
