Social Media on Trial: Tech Giants Face Reckoning Over Child Safety

In a landmark series of trials, social media giants are being held accountable for allegedly endangering children's mental health. Companies like Meta and TikTok stand accused of designing addictive platforms and failing to protect youth from harmful content, with court cases reminiscent of past tobacco and opioid industry litigations.

Jurors in Los Angeles are considering the case of a young plaintiff known only as 'KGM,' whose trial could set a precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits. The proceedings examine whether these tech companies prioritize user growth over child safety, with devastating mental health consequences.

In New Mexico, state attorneys argue that Meta failed to protect minors from sexual exploitation, further questioning social media's role in children's welfare. As debates continue over user addiction and harmful algorithms, the outcomes of these trials may reshape the future operational policies of these social media platforms.