On Monday, a California court in Los Angeles heard arguments from both sides in a case that alleges that tech giants YouTube and Instagram have intentionally designed their platforms to exploit vulnerabilities in teenagers, leading to addiction. The case has the potential to set a significant precedent in how social media companies are held accountable for the mental health impact of their services.

The plaintiff's attorney, Mark Lanier, argued that the companies created mechanisms aimed at promoting addiction-like behavior in adolescent brains, resulting in serious mental health problems for his client, referred to as K.G.M. or Keili, who has struggled with these issues even before reaching adulthood. In contrast, the defense lawyers for Meta and YouTube contended that the complications in the plaintiff's life, rather than the platforms' negligence, were the root causes of her addiction.

In the presentation to the jury, Lanier revealed internal emails, documents, and research conducted by Meta, YouTube, and their parent company Google, aiming to showcase that the companies were aware of the harmful effects their products were having on young users. This case marks a critical point in the ongoing debate about social media's role in public health, particularly concerning young people, as it may influence future regulations and strategies employed by these tech entities to mitigate harm.