Landmark Trial Begins Over Social Media Harms to Kids

Lawsuit alleges Instagram and YouTube knowingly designed addictive products for young users

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A closely watched civil trial has begun in Los Angeles, where a woman is suing Instagram, YouTube, and other social media companies for allegedly designing their products to be addictive and harmful to children. The plaintiff, referred to as Kaley G.M., claims she became addicted to social media as a grade schooler and that the companies prioritized growth and engagement over user well-being, despite internal knowledge of the dangers. The trial could set a precedent for holding tech giants liable for the harms their platforms inflict on young users.

Why it matters

This case represents a major test of whether social media companies can be held accountable for the negative impacts of their products on children and teens. If the plaintiff prevails, it could open the floodgates for similar lawsuits and force tech giants to fundamentally rethink how they design and market their platforms to young users.

The details

The plaintiff's attorneys presented internal documents they say show Instagram and YouTube aggressively targeted children much younger than their stated minimum age limits, with the goal of "capturing" them before puberty and keeping them hooked. The tech companies have pushed back, arguing the documents have been taken out of context and that any harms to the plaintiff stemmed from the actions of other users, not the platforms themselves. The trial will test whether the companies can be held liable for negligence and flawed product design, similar to cases against opioid makers and Big Tobacco.

  • The trial began on February 9, 2026 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
  • The plaintiff, Kaley G.M., briefly appeared in court on the first day of the trial.

The players

Kaley G.M.

A woman from Chico, California who is the plaintiff in the lawsuit, alleging she became addicted to social media as a grade schooler.

Mark Lemeir

One of the attorneys representing Kaley G.M. in the lawsuit.

Meta

The parent company of Instagram, which is a defendant in the lawsuit.

Google

The parent company of YouTube, which is also a defendant in the lawsuit.

Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl

The judge presiding over the trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

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What they’re saying

“They wanted to capture Kaley before she even hit puberty. It's addiction by design.”

— Mark Lemeir, Attorney for the plaintiff (Los Angeles Times)

“Plaintiffs' lawyers have selectively cited Meta's internal documents to construct a misleading narrative, suggesting our platforms have harmed teens and that Meta has prioritized growth over their well-being. These claims don't reflect reality. The evidence will show a company deeply and responsibly confronting tough questions, conducting research, listening to parents, academics, and safety experts, and taking action.”

— Meta (Los Angeles Times)

“Parents need a babysitter to entertain their kids. They want to trust that they can leave their child alone with the app to be safely entertained.”

— YouTube (Los Angeles Times)

What’s next

The trial is expected to last several weeks, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg scheduled to testify in the coming weeks. A verdict in the case could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits currently pending against social media companies.

The takeaway

This landmark trial represents a major challenge to the legal protections that have shielded social media companies from liability for harms to young users. A win for the plaintiff could force tech giants to fundamentally rethink how they design and market their platforms to children and teens, with potentially billions of dollars in damages at stake.