Meta and YouTube create applications aimed at captivating children, a jury is informed as a significant trial commences

A lawyer representing a woman suing Meta Platforms and YouTube informed jurors in California on Monday that the two companies intentionally created products designed to captivate children. This trial will examine the potential liability of Big Tech platforms regarding their app design.

A 20-year-old woman, referred to as Kaley G.M. in court, is filing a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, as well as Alphabet, which owns YouTube.

Kaley became captivated by social media early on due to the apps’ engaging design, her lawyer Mark Lanier informed the jurors. Lanier stated that internal company documents reveal that, “these companies created machines intended to addict the brains of children, and they did so intentionally.”

Attorneys representing Meta and YouTube were anticipated to deliver their opening statements on Monday afternoon. Both companies have refuted the claims.

A ruling unfavorable to the tech companies might pave the way for analogous cases in state court, potentially undermining the industry’s established legal defenses in the U.S. regarding claims of user harm. Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snap are facing thousands of lawsuits in California.

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms, is anticipated to testify at the trial, which is expected to extend into March. TikTok and Snap reached a settlement with Kaley prior to the trial.

Kaley is anticipated to provide her testimony as well. She claims that the apps contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts, and she is pursuing accountability from the companies.

Her legal team seeks to demonstrate that the companies were careless in their app design, that they neglected to inform the public about the associated risks, and that the platforms significantly contributed to her injuries. If they are successful, the jury will deliberate on the possibility of awarding her damages for pain and suffering, and may also consider imposing punitive damages.

Meta and Google intend to counter the allegations by highlighting various aspects of Kaley’s life, showcasing their efforts regarding youth safety, and attempting to separate themselves from users who post harmful content.

Judge Carolyn Kuhl of the Los Angeles Superior Court, who is presiding over the trial, directed jurors that the companies cannot be held responsible for endorsing content produced by others, but only for their own design and management of the platforms.

According to U.S. law, internet companies enjoy significant protection from liability concerning the content posted by their users. Should the jury in this case dismiss that defense, it may open the door for additional lawsuits asserting that the platforms are inherently harmful.

Social media is encountering legal challenges.

Alongside cases such as Kaley’s in state court, the companies are confronted with over 2,300 comparable lawsuits initiated by parents, school districts, and state attorneys general in federal court. The judge in charge is considering the companies’ liability protections before the initial trial regarding the claims in federal court, potentially scheduled for as soon as June.

On Monday, a jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, listened to opening statements in the state’s case against Meta, which alleges that the company profited from its platforms while subjecting children and teens to sexual exploitation and harming their mental health.

“It is indeed the case that in the United States, all companies aim to generate profit,” stated Donald Migliori, an attorney representing the New Mexico attorney general, to the jury. However, he stated, “Meta generated its profits while misleading the public about the safety of its platforms for young users, minimizing or outright denying its awareness of the risks associated with its platforms.”

Lawyers representing Meta, which has refuted the claims and accused New Mexico of carrying out an unethical investigation, are anticipated to present their opening statements later on Monday.

The surge of lawsuits in the U.S. reflects a worldwide response to social media companies concerning the mental health of children. Australia and Spain have restricted access to social media platforms for users under the age of 16, with other countries contemplating similar measures.