• Meta, TikTok, and YouTube face a landmark trial over youth addiction claims.
• The plaintiff, a 19-year-old identified as KGM, alleges addiction caused by platform design.
• Executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to testify over six to eight weeks.
• The trial is viewed as a bellwether for numerous similar lawsuits against social media companies.
• TikTok has settled its related lawsuit ahead of the trial.

A landmark trial against Meta, TikTok, and YouTube begins in California, centered on allegations of social media addiction that allegedly harms youth mental health. The plaintiff, a 19-year-old woman identified as KGM, alleges that the design of these platforms leads to addiction, contributing to her depression and suicidal thoughts. This case marks a significant moment as it will be the first time major tech companies defend their practices before a jury, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

The trial is expected to last between six to eight weeks and involves a jury selection process that will thoroughly vet potential jurors. KGM's case is one of three bellwether trials representing hundreds of similar lawsuits aiming to hold social media companies accountable for their alleged addictive designs. Defendants will argue that they are not liable for third-party content while emphasizing safeguards introduced over the years, as stated by CBS News.

KGM's lawsuit contends that the companies intentionally embedded addictive features into their platforms to increase user engagement and profit, drawing parallels to past tobacco litigation. The ongoing trial could challenge the legal protections provided under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields platforms from liability for user-generated content, according to Reuters and CBS News.

Prior to the trial, TikTok settled its part in the lawsuit, following a similar settlement with Snapchat. KGM’s attorney indicated a potential shift in how social media platforms are scrutinized, with the legal landscape potentially changing should the plaintiffs succeed in their claims, according to Reuters and BBC.

Executives from these tech companies, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to be key witnesses. Their testimonies may have significant implications for the industry, potentially marking a turning point in how tech firms are held accountable for the impact of their platforms on mental health, as highlighted by Al Jazeera and CBS News.