Landmark case against Meta and YouTube highlights influence on kids' mental health
The social media companies are currently facing allegations that their platforms are harmful and addictive to children in this pivotal lawsuit.
For years, major social media companies have pushed back against claims that their platforms harm young people’s mental health.
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Countries around the world have implemented strict policies on social media use, and South Africa is also considering bans on social media for children and teenagers.
This long-running debate is now moving from public hearings and research reports into a courtroom, where a jury will be asked to weigh the impact of design choices made by some of the world’s most powerful tech firms.
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Karen Glenn and her 19-year-old daughter, identified as KGM, have taken four of the biggest players to court: TikTok, Meta, YouTube and Snap, the parent company of Snapchat.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.
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According to CBS News, the plaintiff claims that these platforms knowingly designed addictive features that damaged KGM’s mental health, contributing to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
While TikTok and Snap have already reached undisclosed settlements, the claims against Meta and YouTube have been taken to court.
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The trial marks the first time that large social media companies will have to defend themselves before a jury over allegations that their platforms harm young users’ mental health.
Parents, health experts and child safety advocates have raised concerns for years about the effects of social media on children and teenagers, including compulsive scrolling, online bullying, sleep disruption and exposure to harmful content.
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Legal experts have called this a pioneering case, as the outcome could require tech giants to undertake a complete overhaul of their platforms and offer hope for more than 1,000 similar cases brought against social media players in recent years.
KGM’s attorney, Mark Lanier, has said he hopes the settlements already reached by TikTok and Snap will encourage resolutions in other cases.
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According to CNN, despite repeated appearances before Congress by tech executives and public apologies to families who say their children were harmed, the companies have largely avoided serious legal consequences or regulatory penalties in the United States.
About KGM's lawsuit
It paints a detailed picture of her experience growing up with social media.
Court documents state that she began using social platforms at age 10, despite her mother's attempts to block access using third-party software.
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The complaint argues that the platforms were designed to allow children to bypass parental consent and safeguards.
On Instagram, which is owned by Meta, KGM alleges that she was subjected to bullying and sextortion.
Sextortion involves threats to share explicit images unless further images or money are provided.
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The lawsuit claims that Meta took action only after two weeks of sustained pressure from friends and family reporting the accounts involved.
The complaint alleges that the companies’ design, marketing and operational decisions caused serious emotional and psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, body dysmorphia and a dangerous dependency on social media platforms.
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KGM’s case is one of several within a much larger multidistrict litigation involving approximately 1,500 personal injury claims.
These cases all allege similar mental health harms linked to TikTok, YouTube, Meta and Snap.
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Top executives from Meta, TikTok and YouTube are expected to testify during the trial, which is taking place in Los Angeles and is scheduled to last several weeks.
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Image: AFP