Youth Addiction Lawsuit Against Meta, TikTok & YouTube Goes To Trial

Meta Platforms, TikTok, and YouTube will stand trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court over allegations that their platforms caused addiction and mental health harm to a California woman who began using the apps as a child.

The plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., alleges that product design features led to compulsive use, depression, and suicidal thoughts, according to court filings. Jury selection is scheduled to begin this week. The case is the first among several lawsuits expected to reach trial this year that seek to hold social media companies liable for what plaintiffs describe as youth addiction. A central issue is whether a federal law that shields online platforms from liability for user-generated content applies to claims focused on product design.

The companies argue that the law bars the claims and that their products did not cause the plaintiff’s mental health outcomes. A verdict could affect similar cases nationwide and may reach the Supreme Court.