tech
January 31, 2026
What to know about the jury trials of Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube
Hundreds of parents, teens and school districts have claimed social media is intentionally addictive and harmful
TL;DR
- Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube are defendants in landmark trials alleging intentionally addictive and harmful social media products for youth.
- Jury selection has begun in Los Angeles for the first trial, which involves a plaintiff who developed an addiction at age 10.
- The first trial is expected to last six to eight weeks and is one of about 22 'bellwether' trials, with Snap and TikTok settling out of this specific case.
- Plaintiffs blame design features like infinite scroll and algorithms for prioritizing engagement over well-being, drawing comparisons to lawsuits against tobacco companies.
- Tech companies deny the allegations, emphasizing safety features and parental controls, and question the scientific link between their platforms and addiction.
- Key figures like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg are expected to testify.
- The legal proceedings could lead to financial settlements and injunctive relief, establishing industry-wide safety standards.
- Legislators worldwide are watching closely, with some already enacting laws similar to the plaintiffs' claims.
Continue reading the original article