Companies face accusations that their platforms are addictive and harmful to the mental health of young people. It is expected that Mark Zuckerberg testifies at trial.
This year, the largest social media companies in the world face several historic trials in the United States, which seek to hold them responsible for the harm caused to children who use their platforms.
Opening arguments in the first trial, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, began Monday, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
O Instagramyesand the YouTubefrom Google, face accusations that their platforms cause dependence e deliberately harm children.
A TikTok ea Snap (Snapchat), which were initially cited in the process, made agreements for undisclosed amounts.
The judges got a first glimpse of what will be a long trialcharacterized by divergent narratives from the authors and the remaining two social media companies named as defendants.
Mark Lanier gave the opening statement on behalf of the authors and called Meta and Google “two of the richest corporations in history” that “‘engineered’ addiction in children’s brains”.
19-year-old accuses Meta and Youtube
At the center of the Los Angeles case is a 19-year-old woman identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose case could determine the outcome of thousands of other similar lawsuits against social media companies.
The young woman and two other authors were selected for pilot trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments fare before a jury and what damages, if any, can be awarded, explained Clay Calvert, senior nonresident technology policy fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
This is the first time that companies have presented their arguments to a jury, and the result could have profound effects on your business and how they will deal with children who use their platforms.
Lanier pointed out that the companies’ lawyers “they will try to blame the girl and her parents for the trap they created”referring to the author of the case.
The young woman was a minor when she said she became addicted to social media platformswhich, according to her, had a harmful impact on your mental health.
Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl said jurors must decide Meta and YouTube’s liability independently during deliberations.
Zuckerberg will testify
Executives, including Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, expected to testify at trial.
Experts have drawn parallels with the judgments against big tobacco companieswhich led to a 1998 settlement forcing cigarette companies to pay billions in health care costs and restrict marketing to minors.
Tech companies dispute claims that their products deliberately harm children, citing a series of security measures that they have added over the years and arguing that are not responsible for the content published on their websites by third parties.
A Meta spokesperson stressed in a recent statement that the company strongly disagrees with the allegations made in the lawsuit and that it is “confident that the evidence will demonstrate our long-standing commitment to supporting young people.”
José Castañeda, a Google spokesperson, argued that the allegations against YouTube are “simply false”.
In a statement, he stressed: “Providing young people with a safer and healthier experience has always been fundamental to our work.”
Meanwhile, a separate trial in New Mexico was also scheduled to begin with opening arguments taking place this Tuesday. THEother countries are also enacting new laws for .
Already social media companiesevoked the access to around 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since the country prohibited the use of platforms by children under 16 years of age.
