A landmark trial has begun in Los Angeles where major social media companies - Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Snap (parent of Snapchat), TikTok and YouTube - are being sued by more than 1600 parties, including families and school districts, who claim that these platforms are intentionally designed to make people addicted and harm the mental health of children and youth.
At the center of this case is a 19-year-old woman, identified only by the initials KGM, who claims that her use of social media made her addicted and led to serious psychological problems.
The plaintiffs are seeking financial damages and changes to the way these platforms are designed to create security standards that protect new users, reports the Daily Mail. thegruadian.
It is alleged that internal documents may reveal that the companies knew the risks of these creations, yet used them to maximize user time spent and advertising profits.
For their part, the companies involved have denied any intent to cause harm and say they have added safety and control tools for users, arguing that mental health is complex and platforms alone cannot be blamed.
The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, could have a major impact on how social media is regulated, and could challenge legal protections that normally protect tech companies in the US, such as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. /Telegraph/
