Major social media companies face scrutiny in court over their alleged role in addicting children to their platforms. The Los Angeles County Superior Court trial is one of several landmark cases this year that seek to hold these corporations responsible for the harms caused by their products.
The lawsuit, filed by a 20-year-old woman identified as "KGM," claims that Meta and Google's YouTube deliberately designed features that maximize youth engagement to boost advertising revenue. The case is seen as a test case for other lawsuits against social media companies.
According to Mark Lanier, the plaintiffs' lawyer, internal documents show that Meta knew children who experienced adverse events, such as trauma and stress, were particularly vulnerable to addiction. He also presented findings from a study called "Project Myst," which surveyed 1,000 teens and their parents about their social media use.
The lawsuit claims that Meta and YouTube have engineered addiction in children's brains by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and manipulating their algorithms to keep them engaged for longer periods. Lanier drew comparisons between the social media companies and tobacco firms, citing internal communication between Meta employees who were concerned about the company's lack of proactive action about the potential harm its platforms can cause.
KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. The lawsuit seeks damages for the plaintiff and potentially sets a precedent for other lawsuits against social media companies.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for the way these corporations handle children using their platforms, with potential consequences for their businesses and profits.
The lawsuit, filed by a 20-year-old woman identified as "KGM," claims that Meta and Google's YouTube deliberately designed features that maximize youth engagement to boost advertising revenue. The case is seen as a test case for other lawsuits against social media companies.
According to Mark Lanier, the plaintiffs' lawyer, internal documents show that Meta knew children who experienced adverse events, such as trauma and stress, were particularly vulnerable to addiction. He also presented findings from a study called "Project Myst," which surveyed 1,000 teens and their parents about their social media use.
The lawsuit claims that Meta and YouTube have engineered addiction in children's brains by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and manipulating their algorithms to keep them engaged for longer periods. Lanier drew comparisons between the social media companies and tobacco firms, citing internal communication between Meta employees who were concerned about the company's lack of proactive action about the potential harm its platforms can cause.
KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. The lawsuit seeks damages for the plaintiff and potentially sets a precedent for other lawsuits against social media companies.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for the way these corporations handle children using their platforms, with potential consequences for their businesses and profits.
I'm literally shaking thinking about how messed up it is that our kids are being addicted to social media like that! 
Like what's next? Are they gonna sue gaming companies too for making games too addictive?! 
But seriously though, this lawsuit is SO important. We need to hold these corporations accountable for the harm their products can cause. 
I'm all about KGM fighting for her rights and trying to make a difference. Fingers crossed that the court sees this case for what it is - a huge problem that needs fixing! 
I mean, who wants to admit that they're designing features that target kids and make them addicted? 
It's not right. The fact that internal documents show Meta knew about the negative effects on kids but still did nothing is just appalling! 
We need to hold these corporations accountable for their actions and make sure they prioritize our safety and well-being over profits! 
. And now there's a lawsuit saying they know about the negative effects, especially for kids who are already vulnerable 
. I feel bad for KGM and all the others who got sucked into this vortex of social media. It's crazy that it takes a court case to make these companies take responsibility 
.
. It's crazy to think that companies like Meta & Google knew about the potential harm but still prioritized ad revenue over kids' well-being 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to make some extra cash, right? 
But at what cost? Our children's mental health is literally on the line here 
. It's time for these companies to take responsibility and create safer spaces for our kids online 
. If they don't shape up, we'll be seeing a lot more of these kinds of lawsuits 
.
. We can't keep ignoring the warning signs and expecting everything to be okay 
. It's time for change! 
what if she wins? That could set a huge precedent! 
They knew it was happening & did nothing about it 
