Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a potentially damaging trial that could set a precedent for social media addiction cases. The case centers around K.G.M., a 19-year-old who claims that Meta's design features led to her developing depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta prioritized profits over children's safety and failed to implement adequate safeguards on its platforms. In contrast, YouTube has settled with another plaintiff, while TikTok and Snapchat have also reached settlements.
However, the trial could go in favor of K.G.M. if she can provide evidence that Meta's design features were intentionally created to addict young users. Internal messages from Meta may serve as "smoking-gun" evidence in support of her claims.
One key document released by The Tech Oversight Project shows an email written by Mark Zuckerberg, who is expected to testify at the trial. In it, he expresses concern about the company's focus on teenagers and notes that internal data suggests a correlation between Facebook use and lower well-being.
Another document highlights Meta's efforts to counter criticism, including concerns over Instagram being "a drug." A former employee declared, "Oh my gosh y'all IG is a drug," likening all social media platforms to "pushers."
The trial may also consider testimony from experts who claim that social media overuse and addiction can cause or exacerbate psychological harms in children and youth. One expert, Kara Bagot, testified about the design features on TikTok and other platforms, while another expert, Arturo Bejar, shared his knowledge of Meta's internal safety studies.
If K.G.M. can convince the jury that she was harmed by Meta's failure to remove content but by companies designing their platforms to addict kids, her case could become a data point for settling similar cases en masse.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta prioritized profits over children's safety and failed to implement adequate safeguards on its platforms. In contrast, YouTube has settled with another plaintiff, while TikTok and Snapchat have also reached settlements.
However, the trial could go in favor of K.G.M. if she can provide evidence that Meta's design features were intentionally created to addict young users. Internal messages from Meta may serve as "smoking-gun" evidence in support of her claims.
One key document released by The Tech Oversight Project shows an email written by Mark Zuckerberg, who is expected to testify at the trial. In it, he expresses concern about the company's focus on teenagers and notes that internal data suggests a correlation between Facebook use and lower well-being.
Another document highlights Meta's efforts to counter criticism, including concerns over Instagram being "a drug." A former employee declared, "Oh my gosh y'all IG is a drug," likening all social media platforms to "pushers."
The trial may also consider testimony from experts who claim that social media overuse and addiction can cause or exacerbate psychological harms in children and youth. One expert, Kara Bagot, testified about the design features on TikTok and other platforms, while another expert, Arturo Bejar, shared his knowledge of Meta's internal safety studies.
If K.G.M. can convince the jury that she was harmed by Meta's failure to remove content but by companies designing their platforms to addict kids, her case could become a data point for settling similar cases en masse.
[Image of a broken phone with a crack in it] Oh man, who knew social media was so toxic? 
[GIF of a person drowning in a sea of likes and followers]
Did he really write that?! 
"A drug" 
[Image of a doctor's prescription pad with a scribble that says "Addiction"]
[GIF of people holding hands, but then breaking apart into different social media platforms] It's like, can't we all just get along... and stop using our phones for 5 minutes? 
[Image of a person trying to put down their phone, but failing miserably]
She's got this! Let's hope the jury sees it her way 
[GIF of a superhero saving the day]
also that statement from a former employee likening instagram to a "drug" is low-key spot on 
these companies need to start taking responsibility for the impact they're having on our youth 
this whole trial thing just makes me wanna rethink all my social media habits lol what if instagram really is a drug 
anyway, gotta support k.g.m. and her fam, fingers crossed for the best outcome 
.
. I mean, I've been saying it for years, social media is toxic 
.
. And now this young girl K.G.M. is fighting against them? That gives me hope 
. She might be able to expose the truth about how social media addiction cases are handled.
. I mean, who needs internal emails as "smoking-gun" evidence? That just shows they're hiding something 
. And now we get to see experts testify about the real effects of social media on our youth 
.
these big corps r always under scrutiny now, like whats next? they're trying to shut down tiktok over here too 
K.G.M.'s case could set a precedent for all these other cases, I hope she wins 
like, what does this say about the priorities of big tech companies? 
i never thought i'd see that in an official document... but seriously, what kind of messaging are we sending to our kids when we talk about social media addiction in such casual terms? 