Meta, Google Pivot to Plaintiff's History in California Trial

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Meta and Google have started presenting their defense in a landmark trial over social media addiction, pivoting to the 20-year-old plaintiff's family and school life to push back on blame for her mental health struggles. Lawyers for Meta plan to call the woman's therapists as witnesses to demonstrate that her psychological trauma came from influences in her life other than the platforms. Google's team is highlighting her historical usage of YouTube to show that in recent years, she spent an average amount of time on the platform.

Why it matters

This case is a landmark trial that could set a precedent for holding social media companies accountable for the negative mental health impacts of their platforms. The tech giants' defense strategy of shifting blame to the plaintiff's personal history raises questions about corporate responsibility and the role of social media in contributing to mental health issues.

The details

In the trial, Meta and Google are presenting a defense that aims to shift the blame for the plaintiff's mental health struggles away from their social media platforms. Lawyers for Meta plan to call the woman's therapists as witnesses, hoping to demonstrate that her psychological trauma stemmed from influences in her life other than Instagram and Facebook. Meanwhile, Google's team is highlighting the woman's historical usage of YouTube to argue that in recent years, she spent an average amount of time on the platform, undermining claims that YouTube was a primary driver of her mental health issues.

• The trial began in March 2026.