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

Lawsuit seeks to hold Meta and YouTube responsible for harms to child users

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A landmark trial in Los Angeles is accusing Meta (Instagram's parent company) and Google's YouTube of deliberately designing their platforms to addict children through features like 'like' buttons. The plaintiff's lawyer, Mark Lanier, compared the social media companies to casinos and addictive drugs, arguing they have 'engineered addiction in children's brains.' The trial focuses on the case of a 20-year-old plaintiff identified as 'KGM' who claims social media use starting at age 6 on YouTube and 9 on Instagram had a detrimental impact on her mental health.

Why it matters

This trial could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies, potentially forcing them to change how they design and market their products to children and teens. The outcome could have profound effects on the companies' business models and how they handle minors on their platforms.

The details

Lanier presented internal emails, documents, and studies from Meta and Google showing they were aware that children who experienced trauma and stress were particularly vulnerable to social media addiction. He also highlighted internal communications where Meta employees likened Instagram to 'a drug' and said they were 'basically pushers.' The defense argued that KGM's mental health struggles stemmed more from interpersonal conflicts and a volatile home life, not social media use.

  • The landmark trial began on February 10, 2026 in Los Angeles.
  • KGM started using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9.
  • KGM had posted 284 videos on YouTube before graduating elementary school.

The players

Mark Lanier

The plaintiff's lawyer who delivered the opening statements comparing social media platforms to casinos and addictive drugs.

KGM

A 20-year-old plaintiff whose case could determine how thousands of other similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out.

Paul Schmidt

The lawyer representing Meta (Instagram's parent company) who argued that social media was not the primary factor in KGM's mental health struggles.

Dr. Thomas Suberman

One of KGM's mental health providers who said social media was 'not the through-line of what I recall being her main issues.'

Mark Zuckerberg

The CEO of Meta who is expected to testify at the Los Angeles 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, KGM's Mental Health Provider

“Instagram is 'like a drug' and they are 'basically pushers.'”

— Meta Employee

What’s next

The trial is expected to last 6-8 weeks, with executives from Meta and YouTube expected to testify. The outcome could have profound effects on how social media companies design and market their products to children and teens.

The takeaway

This landmark trial highlights the growing concerns over the impact of social media on children's mental health, and could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits against tech giants. The case underscores the tension between the companies' public stance on protecting minors and their internal practices that may prioritize user engagement and growth over child wellbeing.