Trial of Social Media Firms for Addicting Kids Starts in LA

The world’s biggest social media companies face several landmark trials this year seeking to hold them responsible for harms to children who use their platforms.

The research allegedly showed the company knew children experiencing trauma or stress were especially vulnerable to addiction, and that parental controls had little impact.

Opening statements in one such trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court began early last week, Kaitlyn Huamani and Barbara Ortutay reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Google’s YouTube face claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. TikTok and Snap, which were initially named in the lawsuit, settled for undisclosed sums.

Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt told jurors there is disagreement within the scientific community over whether social media addiction exists or whether addiction is the right framework for describing heavy use.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Lanier delivered the opening statement, calling the case as “easy as ABC,” which he said stands for “addicting the brains of children.”

He accused Meta and Google — “two of the richest corporations in history” — of engineering addiction in young users.

Lanier presented internal emails, documents, and studies from Meta, YouTube, and parent company Google, highlighting findings from Meta’s “Project Myst” study.

According to Lanier, the research showed the company knew children experiencing trauma or stress were especially vulnerable to addiction, and that parental controls had little impact, Morgan Lee also reported for AP.