Landmark Trial Accuses Social Media Giants of 'Addicting the Brains of Children'

Meta and Google face claims their platforms deliberately addict kids through design choices.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A landmark trial in Los Angeles is seeking to hold Instagram owner Meta and Google's YouTube responsible for harms to children who use their products. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue the tech giants have 'engineered addiction in children's brains' through deliberate design choices, comparing their platforms to casinos and addictive drugs. The case centers around a 20-year-old plaintiff who claims she became addicted to social media as a child, with detrimental impacts on her mental health. Meta and YouTube are pushing back, arguing social media was not the 'substantial factor' in the plaintiff's struggles.

Why it matters

This trial could have profound effects on the social media industry, potentially forcing major changes in how companies design and market their products to young users. It comes amid a growing reckoning over the harms of social media on youth mental health, with a slew of similar lawsuits filed by states, school districts, and other plaintiffs.

The details

The case centers around a 20-year-old plaintiff identified as 'KGM' who started using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at 9. Plaintiff's lawyer Mark Lanier argued Meta and Google 'engineered addiction' through features like 'like' buttons that cater to teens' need for social validation. He presented internal documents showing the companies knew certain users were vulnerable to addiction. Meta's lawyer Paul Schmidt pushed back, arguing social media was not the 'substantial factor' in KGM's mental health struggles, which he said stemmed more from interpersonal conflicts and a troubled home life.

  • The trial began on February 10, 2026 in Los Angeles.
  • YouTube's lawyers will begin their opening statements on February 11, 2026.

The players

Mark Lanier

The plaintiff's lawyer who delivered the opening statement, arguing the tech giants 'engineered addiction in children's brains'.

Paul Schmidt

The lawyer representing Meta, who pushed back on the addiction claims and argued social media was not the 'substantial factor' in the plaintiff's mental health struggles.

KGM

The 20-year-old plaintiff whose case could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies play out. She started using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at 9.

Meta

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

Google

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

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What they’re saying

“For a teenager, social validation is survival. The defendants 'engineered a feature that caters to a minor's craving for social validation.”

— Mark Lanier, Plaintiff's Lawyer

“Social media was 'not the through-line of what I recall being her main issues', adding that her struggles seemed to largely stem from interpersonal conflicts and relationships.”

— Dr. Thomas Suberman, Mental Health Provider

What’s next

The trial is expected to last 6-8 weeks, with executives from Meta and Google expected to testify. The outcome could have major implications for how social media companies design and market their products to young users.

The takeaway

This landmark trial represents a growing reckoning over the harms of social media on youth mental health, with a slew of similar lawsuits filed by states, school districts, and other plaintiffs. The case could force major changes in the industry and how it handles its young user base.