Jury selection is set to begin Wednesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court for a high‑profile case accusing Snap and Meta of designing apps that addict teenagers. The lawsuit centers on two teenage girls who claim features such as “Snapstreaks,” push notifications and view counts worsened their mental health.
Plaintiffs allege harmful effects on minors
An 18‑year‑old from Mississippi, identified only as “K.D.B.,” alleges that compulsive use of Snapchat and Instagram contributed to depression, anxiety, self‑harm and suicidal thoughts. The plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote that the addictive qualities of the defendants’ products and their algorithms are not fully understood by minor users or their parents.
Snap and Meta push back
Snap responded to ABC News, saying the allegations “misrepresent” the plaintiffs’ experiences. The company emphasized that Snapchat opens to a camera rather than a scrolling feed and that it has built safeguards, safety tools and educational resources to protect its community.
Meta also denied the claims, noting that the plaintiff used TikTok far more than Instagram or Facebook and that many factors shape a young person’s mental health. A Meta spokesperson highlighted a decade of teen protections, including a partnership with 52 bipartisan attorneys general that imposes strict time limits, blocks nighttime access and disables notifications during school hours.
Key witnesses expected
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Instagram executive Adam Mosseri are slated to testify in November.
Background of similar litigation
A related trial earlier this year in the same courtroom resulted in a jury awarding $6 million to a plaintiff against Meta and YouTube. Snap and TikTok settled their cases before trial. In August, Meta reached a historic settlement with 48 states, agreeing to pay up to $18 billion and implement changes such as time limits, disabling certain filters and hiding like counts, without admitting wrongdoing. The company now urges other platforms to adopt similar safety standards.
Implications for the industry
The outcome of this case could influence how social‑media companies design features for minors and may set a new industry standard for protecting youth online.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
