Teen mental health: Meta Platforms, TikTok and YouTube are set to face fresh courtroom scrutiny this week in a California case that accuses major social platforms of worsening mental health outcomes for young users, as the national argument over kids’ screen time shifts from public debate to legal test.
The trial, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is being closely watched because it is positioned as a bellwether for thousands of similar lawsuits seeking damages for alleged social media harms. Legal experts and plaintiffs’ lawyers say the outcome could pressure a key defence that has long helped shield tech companies from liability.
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At the centre of the case is a 19-year-old California woman identified in court filings as K.G.M. She alleges she became addicted to the companies’ products as a child because of what she describes as attention-maximising design features, and that prolonged use contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts.
The lawsuit is among the first expected to go to trial this year that frames the issue as “social media addiction” among children. It will also be one of the first times the companies must defend themselves before a jury over claims that their products caused harm, said the plaintiff’s attorney, Matthew Bergman. A major legal question is how a federal law that broadly protects platforms from liability for user-generated content applies in this case; the companies have argued it bars the claims.
A verdict against the platforms could weaken that long-standing shield and signal that juries are willing to hold companies responsible for product design choices, not just what users post. Bergman said the legal fight is likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court, whether through this case or another.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify. Meta is expected to argue that its products did not cause K.G.M.’s mental health challenges, according to statements from its lawyers ahead of the proceedings.
The lawsuit was originally also named Snap, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel had been expected to testify. Snap agreed on January 20 to settle K.G.M.’s claims; a spokesperson declined to comment on the terms.
YouTube, meanwhile, is expected to argue that its services differ in important ways from platforms such as Instagram and TikTok and should not be treated the same in court, according to a YouTube executive. TikTok declined to comment on its planned courtroom arguments.
As the case heads to trial, the same companies are simultaneously trying to reassure parents and policymakers that teens can use their products safely. They have rolled out parental-control tools and spent heavily promoting those features, according to the report.
Meta has sponsored parent workshops about teen online safety at dozens of U.S. high schools since at least 2018. One such event, branded “Screen Smart,” was held in Los Angeles in 2024 alongside National PTA President Yvonne Johnson and Meta safety chief Antigone Davis. TikTok has backed similar PTA-led sessions under the name “Create with Kindness,” including tutorials for parents on features such as limiting night-time screen use, according to program materials.
Google, YouTube’s parent company, has also partnered with the Girl Scouts on online-safety education. Participants can earn a patch featuring Google’s logo after completing lessons on password security, digital privacy and online behaviour, according to the Girl Scouts website.
The companies have also retained prominent litigation counsel with experience in cases involving allegations of addiction. Meta has hired lawyers at Covington & Burling who represented McKesson in opioid-related litigation, according to attorney biographies. TikTok’s counsel has represented Activision Blizzard and Microsoft in a dispute involving video game design and addiction.
“These companies are using every lever of influence that you can imagine,” said Julie Scelfo, founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, which supports smartphone bans in schools. “It can be very confusing for parents who to trust.”