Meta, ByteDance, Google, Snap will face adolescent addiction trial
A judge has ruled that Meta Platforms Inc., ByteDance Ltd., Alphabet Inc., and Snap Inc. must face trial regarding allegations that they created social media platforms intended to addict young users, paving the way for the initial case among thousands to be brought before juries. On Wednesday evening, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl delivered a ruling against the companies, marking their final opportunity to evade trial. Kuhl removed a negligence allegation from one case, yet permitted other claims to move forward after attorneys have dedicated years to examining evidence and contesting legal theories. A wave of lawsuits that began approximately three years ago is aimed at Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, ByteDance’s TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Snap’s Snapchat. A series of trials commencing in January will represent the inaugural opportunity for platform users to provide testimony in court regarding their addiction and the pain they have endured. Numerous cases have been initiated by individuals, school districts, and state attorneys general.
A group of professionals is under the supervision of Kuhl, while a separate case is awaiting resolution in federal court located in Oakland, California. If the companies ultimately lose, they could collectively face billions of dollars in damages and be compelled to alter how children engage with the platforms. During a hearing before Kuhl in October, lawyers representing the social media companies contended that the plaintiffs had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the designs of each platform—such as algorithms that curate content, endless scrolling, and personalized notifications—were directly responsible for the numerous harms claimed in the lawsuits. Young users assert that excessive screen time has resulted in depression, anxiety, insomnia, and eating disorders, with some having engaged in self-harm and even dying by suicide. “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people,” a spokesperson for Meta stated. “For over a decade, we’ve listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most.”
José Castaneda stated that the company has implemented safeguards to provide families with greater control over their use of the platform. “These lawsuits fundamentally misunderstand how YouTube works and the allegations are simply not true,” Castaneda stated on Thursday. “YouTube is a streaming service where people come to watch everything from live sports to podcasts to their favorite creators, primarily on TV screens, not a social network where people go to catch up with friends.” Attorneys representing Snap from the law firm Kirkland & Ellis expressed their anticipation for the trial, where they will clarify why the allegations against the company are unfounded. “Snapchat was designed differently from traditional social media; it opens to the camera, allowing Snapchatters to connect with family and friends in an environment that prioritizes their safety and privacy,” the lawyers stated. A spokesperson for TikTok has not yet provided a response to the inquiry for comment. “These rulings affirm that tech companies must face accountability for the design choices they make — choices that can profoundly affect the mental health of young users,” a group of lawyers representing the youths and families who are suing stated. “We are grateful that the court recognized the importance of letting a jury decide whether these platforms caused harm to these plaintiffs.” A jury is set to be selected in January for the initial bellwether trial, providing a chance for both parties to evaluate the strengths of their arguments and assess how other cases with comparable claims may unfold.
The results of these initial trials occasionally prompt discussions for settlement. The initial trial will showcase a 19-year-old woman from California who claims that the designs of the sites contributed to her addiction and resulted in anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. The trial is set to commence on January 27. Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer of Meta, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, and Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap, are anticipated to provide testimony. The early trials will examine the boundaries of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a federal liability shield law that has safeguarded certain social media platforms from previous user-harm lawsuits. Attorneys representing the companies contend that they bear no responsibility for third-party content shared on the app that could potentially harm users. In her ruling on a significant case, Kuhl stated that it would be fitting for a jury to consider whether design elements such as “infinite scroll” play a role in the issue at hand. “The fact that a design feature like ‘infinite scroll’ led a user to harmful content does not mean that there can be no liability for harm arising from the design feature itself,” Kuhl wrote.
