tech
January 28, 2026
TikTok, Meta, and YouTube sued in first-ever child addiction trial
Global social media giants Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are facing their first-ever trial over child addiction claims
TL;DR
- Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are facing their first product liability trial in Los Angeles.
- Plaintiffs allege the companies knowingly designed addictive platforms that harm children.
- A 19-year-old woman claims the platforms contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts.
- This trial is the first to test allegations of 'social media addiction' among children.
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify, with Meta arguing their products did not cause the plaintiff's issues.
- A key issue is a federal law protecting platforms from liability for user content, which could be weakened by a verdict against the companies.
- Snap settled the lawsuit before the trial.
- YouTube plans to argue its platforms are fundamentally different from Instagram and TikTok.
- Concerns over child safety online have intensified legal pressure on these companies globally.
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