Parents and schools accuse social networks of deliberately inducing addiction. Lawsuits against Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube are taking place in Los Angeles.

Parents, teenagers, and school districts have taken social media companies to court, accusing them of making their products intentionally addictive and harmful to the mental health of young people. The trial began in Los Angeles, with jury selection for the case of a 20-year-old woman who claims to have suffered physical and emotional harm due to social media addiction. Companies Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube are involved, and Zuckerberg and other CEOs will testify.

These lawsuits come after years of criticism from parents, who blame social networks for causing eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. The companies defend their products, arguing that addiction is the result of problematic content, not the design of the platforms. They also invoke legal protections that shield them from liability for user-generated content.

The complaint highlights addictive design features, such as infinite scrolling and constant notifications. The trial could influence how social media platforms operate and could establish industry safety standards. Although the outcome of the trials is uncertain, initial verdicts could affect the amounts companies are willing to pay in potential settlements.