Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial Begins in US

New York: A major social media addiction trial is underway in Los Angeles, and legal experts say it could have wide impact on the technology industry.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before a jury this week in a case accusing social media platforms of harming young users. The lawsuit claims companies designed addictive features that negatively affected children’s mental health.

The case centers on a 20-year-old woman who says she became addicted to platforms such as Instagram and YouTube as a child, leading to anxiety and depression. Meta and YouTube deny the claims. Snap and TikTok settled before trial but remain involved in other lawsuits.

Why This Case Matters

Legal experts describe the trial as a “bellwether” case. That means its outcome could influence more than 1,500 similar lawsuits filed against social media companies.

Some observers have compared the situation to tobacco litigation in the 1990s, which led to major industry changes and public health warnings.

Lawyers for the plaintiff argue that social media platforms were intentionally designed to increase screen time and engagement. They claim internal company documents show awareness of potential harm to young users.

Meta has said the documents are outdated and taken out of context. The company also argues that there is no clear scientific proof that social media causes addiction.

Focus on Product Design

Unlike earlier cases, this lawsuit focuses on product design rather than user content. Lawyers are attempting to hold companies responsible for how their platforms are built.

Technology firms have often relied on Section 230 of US law to protect them from liability over user posts. This case challenges companies over design choices instead.

Meta and other companies say they have introduced safety tools, including parental controls, privacy settings and screen time limits.

What Happens Next

The trial is expected to continue for several weeks. The jury has not yet heard full arguments from Meta and YouTube’s defense teams.

Legal experts say the decision could guide how future cases are handled. If companies face multiple losses, it could result in financial penalties and possible changes to platform design.

For now, the outcome remains uncertain. But the case is being closely watched as a potential turning point in how social media companies are regulated and held accountable.