Meta, TikTok and YouTube face landmark trial over youth addiction claims

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by By BARBARA ORTUTAYJanuary 27, 2026 at 08:23 AM

AI Summary

medium article 4 min

Meta, TikTok, and YouTube are facing a landmark trial in Los Angeles this week over allegations that their platforms intentionally addict and harm children. Jury selection is beginning in Los Angeles County Superior Court, marking the first time these companies will defend themselves before a jury on these claims. The lawsuit centers around a 19-year-old, identified as "KGM," and her case is one of three bellwether trials selected to gauge the strength of arguments and potential damages. A fourth company named in the lawsuit, Snap Inc. (Snapchat), settled its case last week for an undisclosed amount. The outcome of these trials could significantly impact how social media companies handle children's use of their platforms.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

San Francisco 30% Google ×330% Clay Calvert 40% American Enterprise Institute 40% Snap Inc. 50% KGM 60% ByteDance Ltd. 60% Los Angeles ×270% YouTube ×380% TikTok ×480% Meta Platforms, Inc. ×390%

Keywords

youth addiction 90% social media 80% landmark trial 80% youtube 70% meta 70% tiktok 70% jury selection 60% lawsuit 60% harm children 50% bellwether trials 50%