FILE-A woman holds a smartphone with various social media apps on the display. (Photo by Alicia Windzio/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
Three of the biggest tech organizations face a major trial this week over allegations that their social media platforms— Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok and Google's YouTube — intentionally addict and hurt children.
Beginning this week, jurors will be selected for a trial happening in Los Angeles, and it marks the first time the tech companies are arguing before a jury.
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The Associated Press reported that jury selection is likely to take a couple of days, with 75 possible jurors questioned daily until Thursday. Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., a fourth company named in the lawsuit, settled the case last week for an undisclosed amount of money.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is among several executives expected to testify at the trial, which will last six to eight weeks.
What is the Meta, TikTok and YouTube trial about?
Dig deeper:
The trial involves a 19-year-old identified by the initials "KGM," whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out.
KGM asserts that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and amplified depression and suicidal thoughts, according to the Associated Press.
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This lawsuit also claims that this was done through intentional design choices made by tech organizations that sought to make their social media platforms more addictive to children to bolster their earnings.
If this argument is successful, the AP noted that it would evade the organizations’ First Amendment protection, which safeguards tech companies from responsibility for content posted on their platforms.
Tech companies respond to case
The other side:
Meta, TikTok, and YouTube refute the allegations that their social media platforms intentionally harm children, referencing protections they have added through the years, while contending that they are not accountable for content posted on their sites by third parties.
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In a statement provided to the Associated Press, a Meta spokesperson said Monday that the organization strongly disagrees with the allegations outlined in the lawsuit and that it's "confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people."
José Castañeda, a Google Spokesperson, told the AP Monday that the allegations against YouTube are "simply not true." In a statement, Castañeda said "Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work."
Meanwhile, TikTok did not offer a comment on the case, the AP noted.
Meta, TikTok, and YouTube facing additional lawsuits
Big picture view:
According to the Associated Press, over 40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, alleging it is harming children and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by intentionally creating features on Instagram and Facebook that can addict children to its social media platforms. Moreover, TikTok is also facing similar lawsuits in over a dozen states.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press, which received statements from Meta and Google related to the case. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.