Meta, Google social media addiction trial hears expert testimony

Social media addiction trial overview:

• Who: A trial is underway in a lawsuit filed against social media companies Meta and Google.
• Why: The plaintiff, identified as Kaley G.M., alleges the companies intentionally designed their platforms to encourage social media addiction.
• Where: The trial is underway in California state court.
• How to get help: Have you or your child been affected by compulsive social media usage? You may qualify to join a social media lawsuit.

A Stanford University professor told a jury that studies have confirmed social media addiction is real and can hurt mental health, a Law360 report states.

The testimony came during a California bellwether trial over allegations that social media companies, such as Meta and Google, intentionally designed their platforms to encourage social media addiction. 

Attorneys general from 29 states are also pursuing claims that Meta Platforms engaged in nationwide misconduct by designing its social media platforms in a way that harmed the mental and physical health of children.

The social media addiction trial is the first of at least nine planned out of thousands of cases consolidated in the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl, according to Law360. The trial’s outcome could help the parties reach a settlement in the remaining cases.

Anna Lembke, a professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine at Stanford University, testified on Feb. 13 that peer-reviewed academic studies have concluded social media addiction can cause or worsen symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and suicidal thoughts, in users.

Lembke cited a recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health that tracked social media use by more than 11,000 children and adolescents for one year.

The study found that “kids who use a lot of social media who are not depressed will become depressed” after using social media a lot, Lembke said.

Social media addiction trial focuses on platform features

The social media addiction trial involves allegations that social media companies behind TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram purposely induced young people to compulsively use their products with allegedly addictive features, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications and reward systems.

Pretrial rulings by Judge Kuhl reduced the litigation to be about claims that the platforms’ features are addictive and not the actual third-party media posted to the platforms.

The companies are facing failure-to-warn claims alongside negligence and concealment allegations.

Plaintiff Kaley G.M. is 20 years old now but alleges a social media addiction in her youth caused her to suffer mental health problems.

Kaley also named TikTok and Snap as defendants in the lawsuit. However, she recently settled a lawsuit with them, although the settlement did not resolve other consolidated personal injury cases in the Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings pending before Judge Kuhl.

Do you believe social media companies have designed their platforms to encourage addiction? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Mariana A. McConnell of Kiesel Law LLP; W. Mark Lanier, Sarah Lanier and Rachel Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm; Rahul Ravipudi of Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP; Adam S. Davis of Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP; and Joseph VanZandt of Beasley Allen Law Firm.

The social media addiction trial is Social Media Cases, Case No. JCCP5255 and Lead Case No. 22STCV21355, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

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