First Jury Trial Tests Whether Meta, TikTok and YouTube Addict Kids and Harm Mental Health
Jury selection is complete and opening arguments begin today in the first jury trial alleging Meta, TikTok and YouTube designed features that addict young users and harm children’s mental health. Plaintiffs will present thousands of internal documents — including company research and features such as autoplay that they say make the apps "nearly impossible" for kids to put down — while the platforms argue there is no accepted clinical diagnosis of "social media addiction" and deny their products caused the youth mental‑health crisis.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- This is the first jury trial testing whether Meta, YouTube and TikTok addict young users and harm youth mental health.
- As of 2026-01-27, jury selection is complete and opening arguments begin that day.
- The defendants in the trial are Meta, YouTube and TikTok.
- Plaintiffs allege the platforms' design features — including autoplay videos — make the apps nearly impossible for children to put down and contribute to addiction.
- Plaintiffs plan to present thousands of internal documents, including the platforms' own research on children and their design choices.
- The platforms contend there is no accepted clinical diagnosis of 'social media addiction' and deny that their products are the cause of the youth mental‑health crisis.
đź“° Source Timeline (2)
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January 27, 2026
12:31 PM
Trump sends border czar to Minnesota. And, trial over social media addiction begins
New information:
- NPR confirms jury selection is complete and opening arguments begin today in the first jury trial targeting Meta, YouTube and TikTok over alleged design features that addict young users.
- The piece emphasizes the jury will see 'thousands' of internal documents, including the platforms’ own research on children and design choices such as autoplay videos that plaintiffs say make the apps 'nearly impossible' for kids to put down.
- NPR reports the platforms are explicitly arguing there is no accepted clinical diagnosis of 'social media addiction' and denying that their products are the cause of the youth mental‑health crisis.