Trial Launches with Jury Selection and Executive Testimony Jury selection started on Jan. 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with about 75 prospective jurors questioned each day and the process expected to continue through Thursday [1][2][3]. The case will run six to eight weeks, and senior leaders from Meta, ByteDance (TikTok) and Google (YouTube) are slated to take the stand [1][2][3]. Snap Inc. settled its related claim just days earlier, removing it from this particular trial [4].

Plaintiff Alleges Platform Algorithms Created Addictive Dependence The 19‑year‑old plaintiff, identified only as KGM, claims that algorithmic feeds, push notifications and endless‑scroll features on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube fostered compulsive use, worsening depression, eating disorders, bullying, sextortion and body‑image issues [1][2][3]. She and her mother argue the design deliberately mimics slot‑machine and cigarette‑industry tactics to maximize youth engagement [1]. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and serves as a bellwether for thousands of similar claims [1][2][3].

Defendants Cite Safeguards and Question Causal Evidence Meta, TikTok and YouTube argue that scientific research linking their platforms to mental‑health decline is inconclusive and point to recent safety tools such as Instagram “teen accounts,” Meta’s parental‑supervision features, YouTube’s short‑form feed blocker and TikTok’s guided‑meditation option [1][2][3]. They also invoke Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as a shield against liability, while Meta’s blog describes mental‑health struggles as “deeply complex” and not reducible to a single factor [1][2]. Executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to testify despite the companies’ claims of limited responsibility [1][2][3].

Potential Verdict Could Influence Thousands of Similar Lawsuits Legal scholars note the trial functions as a bellwether that could set precedent for roughly 1,500 related personal‑injury cases and potentially billions of dollars in damages, echoing the 1998 tobacco settlement’s impact on industry practices [1][3]. Over 40 state attorneys general have filed parallel suits against Meta, while TikTok faces actions in more than a dozen states, and a federal bellwether trial is scheduled for June in Oakland [1][3]. The outcome may determine whether platforms must redesign addictive features or face extensive liability [2][3].