Landmark trial accusing social media companies of addicting children to their platforms begins

"Landmark Trial Exposes Dark Secrets Behind Social Media Companies' Handling of Children"

A significant trial has begun in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with Meta and Google facing allegations that their platforms are designed to addict children, exacerbating depression and suicidal thoughts. The case centers around a 19-year-old plaintiff, identified only as "KGM," whose story could determine the outcome for thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies.

The trial's opening statements painted a stark picture of the companies' alleged negligence in protecting young users. Mark Lanier, the plaintiffs' attorney, claimed that Meta and Google are "two of the richest corporations in history" that have "engineered addiction in children's brains." He cited internal documents showing that the companies target young audiences with explicit references to boost profits.

Lanier drew comparisons between the social media giants and tobacco firms, highlighting the use of manipulative design features aimed at maximizing youth engagement. He also emphasized how social validation is crucial for teenagers, saying that Facebook and Instagram "engineered a feature that caters to a minor's craving for social validation."

The trial will last around eight weeks, with executives from Meta and Google expected to testify. The outcome could have profound effects on their businesses and how they handle children using their platforms.

Meanwhile, other countries are taking steps to regulate social media use among children. France has approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, while Australia has revoked access to over 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to minors since the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16.

As the trial unfolds, it will be crucial to examine whether Meta and Google are held accountable for their alleged negligence in protecting young users. The case raises important questions about the role of social media companies in shaping children's mental health and wellbeing.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... like, can you even imagine what it must be like to be a kid growing up with these platforms basically designed to keep you hooked? It's wild that they're using tactics similar to tobacco companies - like, what's next? Mark Lanier is bringing some serious heat in this trial and I'm hoping he can make some real changes happen. But honestly, it's kinda scary that we've come to accept this as normal. Like, how many of us have a kid or know someone who's been affected by social media addiction? It's time for these companies to be held accountable for their actions and to take responsibility for the impact they're having on our kids' mental health.

OMG this is soooo concerning! I remember when my little cousin was a teen, she spent hours on TikTok and Instagram but now I'm all like "slow down kiddo!" its crazy to think that these big companies are actually designing their platforms to keep us hooked for $$$ like they're exploiting our kids' insecurities! what's the point of having social media if we just want to feel good about ourselves? gotta say, I'm rooting for KGM and all the other plaintiffs in this trial it's time someone held these giants accountable for their actions

I'm not convinced by these allegations... I mean, I get that it sounds serious, but isn't it a bit convenient to pin all this on Meta and Google? Where are the numbers? How many kids exactly have been "addicted" through social media? The fact that they're citing internal documents as proof makes me wonder if those aren't just cherry-picked bits taken out of context.

And what about the correlation between social media use and depression/suicidal thoughts? Is it really that simple? Are we assuming that social media causes these issues without considering other factors like mental health, family dynamics...? The more I think about it, the more I want to see some hard data before we start throwing labels at big corporations

I'm not buying it . Social media companies are just trying to make a buck, they don't care about our kids . They're just using psychology tricks to keep us hooked . And now we're surprised that some kid is getting depressed and suicidal? Come on! We should be worried about the corporations making money off our suffering, not just another trial . What's next? Filing a lawsuit against Coca-Cola for making soda? It's all about profits, not people .

this is crazy... all these big corps making so much money off kids who can't even take care of themselves they're playing with fire, literally and now we gotta hold them accountable? hope the trial goes well for KGM and shows these companies what's at stake

I'm not sure I buy into this whole addiction thing . Can't people just be responsible with their own screen time? Like, I get it, social media can be a real mind-suck for kids, but is it really the company's fault? I mean, parents are supposed to monitor what their kids are doing online, right? And what about all these "addiction" metrics that companies use - isn't that just how the game is played in the digital world? The idea of social media giants being like tobacco firms seems a bit far-fetched to me. And those design features that boost engagement for profits? That's just business as usual, innit?

this is getting serious, can't believe we're at a point where these big corps are being sued for basically ruining kids' minds lol like, what were they thinking when they designed these platforms? knew it, the 'engines of addiction' doc was real, but come on! 8 weeks sounds like forever, gotta keep an eye on this one...

omg u guys can't believe what's going down these social media companies r literally designing platforms to manipulate kids into addiction! they're profiting off our kids' misery meta & google gotta be held accountable for their negligence, like what even is the point of having a moral compass if u just wanna make bank off kids' emotional scars?

and i'm so tired of these companies trying to brush it under the rug france banning social media for kids under 15 is a good start, but we need more action. Australia revoking accounts for minors is another step in the right direction but what about all the other countries that haven't taken a stand yet?

anywayz this trial better be a wild ride can't wait to see how it all goes down and if justice will be served

I'm getting the feels this whole thing is super worrying... all those social media platforms just wanna keep kids hooked on their apps for as long as possible to rake in the dough . It's like, we knew this was a problem, but did nobody do anything about it? I mean, Australia and France are taking some steps, which is nice, but it's not enough, right? We need stricter regulations worldwide, stat! And what really gets me is that these companies are basically preying on kids' vulnerabilities, using features designed to keep them engaged. It's just not cool .

I'm low-key freaking out over this trial lol ! Like, I know social media has its downsides, but to think that they're literally designed to be addictive is wild . I mean, I get it, the money they make from advertising is insane , but come on! How can you design a platform that's supposed to bring people together and connect them with others and instead creates this toxic cycle of constant comparison and validation anxiety ? It's like, what even is the point?!

And I'm all for countries taking action and regulating social media use among kids . Like, France banning social media for under 15s is a good start , but we need to take it a step further. We need to hold these companies accountable for their negligence . It's not just about the money; it's about the impact on our youth's mental health and wellbeing .

I'm so invested in this trial now . I'll be watching it every day, waiting for those Meta and Google execs to spill all the tea ️. Who knows what secrets they're hiding behind closed doors? The suspense is killing me!

I'm totally shook by this trial . Did you know that 70% of kids aged 8-12 spend more than 4 hours a day on screens, and 60% experience depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? It's no wonder they're targeting young audiences with manipulative features to boost profits ! The fact that these companies are aware of the harm they're causing but still engage in it is insane . I mean, we already know that excessive screen time can lead to a 2x increase in risk of depression among kids . Can you imagine if your kid's mental health was impacted by a platform designed to keep them hooked?

I think this whole thing is super concerning. These big tech companies have so much power over our kids' lives, and it's not being used responsibly. They're basically designed to keep people engaged for as long as possible, which can lead to all sorts of problems like depression and anxiety. It's crazy that they're trying to profit off of something that affects young people's mental health so badly. I'm keeping an eye on this trial to see what happens, but I hope it leads to some real change.

"Kids need a break from these platforms, it's like they're addicted 2 their screens "

this is crazy! if its true that they designed their platforms to addict kids, thats like, super irresponsible. how can they just sit back and watch thousands of teens suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts because of their product? gotta wonder what's gonna happen to these companies and how they're gonna change their ways. it's like we need a whole new set of rules for social media that prioritize kids' well-being over profits

So like, have you seen this stat from 2022? 70% of teenagers use social media more than 3 hours a day, which is crazy! I mean, it's no wonder they're trying to exploit our young brains for profit, right? The design features they use are like, straight outta a psychology lab experiment... not cool. Meanwhile, in Australia, 1 in 5 minors have reported feeling anxious or depressed after taking breaks from social media, which is wild. And what's with the comparisons to tobacco companies? Not exactly reassuring. The fact that they're trying to engineer addiction in kids' brains is just... no thanks. Can we please just regulate these platforms already and protect our kids' mental health?

omg this is super sus!!! i mean i use snapchat and tiktok all the time but never thought they were addicting me lol. this case is crazy it seems like these big corps r taking advantage of kids. i feel bad for KGM, whoever that is. i hope the trial exposes more about what's really going on behind closed doors. france is making some good moves by banning social media for kids under 15 tho maybe we should get rid of tiktok and snapchat too lol just kidding but seriously though this case could change everything

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this... I mean, can you believe that these massive corporations have been basically exploiting our kids' vulnerability to get more views and profits? It makes me think back to when I was a teenager and how social media just seemed like the most natural thing to do. But now, looking back, it's wild how they've designed platforms that can be so manipulative... like, I used to spend hours on Instagram scrolling through my feed, feeling pressure to keep up with what others were posting... it sounds crazy now but it was like, a social validation loop that was hard to break out of. I hope the trial sheds some light on this and maybe leads to some real changes in how these companies handle kids online...

man this is wild I feel like we're at a crossroads here, you know? on one hand these companies have to be held accountable for their actions, but on the other they're also innovators and creators... like if they can find a way to make social media safer for kids then who knows what good could come from it? I'm all for some stricter regulations, especially in countries where they've already taken steps like France doing that bill. but at the same time we have to think about the bigger picture and not just focus on the negative aspects... maybe there's a middle ground here where social media companies can adapt and improve while still making a profit?

OMG u guys!! I'm literally SHAKEN by this trial!!! Like, how could Meta & Google do this to our kids?! They're basically profiting off their addiction & depression ! I know they have the power to make a change & it's time for them to take responsibility . I'm all about that #JusticeForKGM . It's crazy how these companies are compared to tobacco firms, can you believe it?! They need to be held accountable & I hope this trial opens doors for real change . Let's keep our fingers crossed that the outcome is gonna be something amazing !