Jury Selection Begins in LA Trial Against Meta, Snap Over Social Media Addiction

4.8 · 1d ago · US · TECH

The Facts

  • Jury selection began in Los Angeles in a trial against Meta and Snap brought by two plaintiffs who allege the companies' platforms were designed to be addictive and harmed their mental health. CBS News only
  • The plaintiffs sued in 2023. They are S.J., a 16-year-old from Illinois, and K.D.B., an 18-year-old from Mississippi. CBS News only
  • TikTok and Alphabet's YouTube were part of the original lawsuit but settled before trial. Meta also settled with S.J. CBS News only
  • Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages. CBS News only
  • Meta and Snap dispute the allegations. Meta says the plaintiff used TikTok far more than Instagram or Facebook; Snap says it has built safeguards and safety tools. CBS News only
Dive deeper · 4 more factsShow less
  • Opening statements are scheduled for early November, with Judge Carolyn Kuhl presiding. Plaintiffs' lawyers say the trial will likely run until mid-December. CBS News only
  • Instagram head Adam Mosseri, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel are all expected to testify. CBS News only
  • Meta and Snap asked earlier this week to split the cases into two separate trials; Judge Kuhl has not yet ruled, according to a person familiar with the matter. CBS News only
  • The case is one of several bellwether cases for a large group of similar claims against social media companies. Earlier this year, Meta and YouTube were ordered to pay $6 million after a jury found them liable in a separate case over addictive products for young users. CBS News only

Context

A Los Angeles trial over claims that Meta and Snap designed addictive platforms that harmed young users' mental health entered jury selection. The plaintiffs allege features such as endless scrolling and Snapstreaks contributed to depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm.

The companies are expected to argue that other factors, not their platforms, caused the plaintiffs' conditions. Plaintiffs' lead counsel Mark Lanier said it will be the first case against Snapchat and the first public look at some of its documents.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 2.

6 News Editor A concrete start of a significant bellwether trial against Meta and Snap affecting a large group of similar claims, but it involves only two plaintiffs and jury selection rather than a verdict or ruling, so moderate importance.
5 Global Affairs Analyst A significant bellwether trial against Meta and Snap over alleged addictive design is newsworthy with broad implications for many similar claims, but this story reports only the start of jury selection, not a verdict or binding action, so its immediate impact is moderate.
5 Policy Expert Jury selection in a significant bellwether trial against Meta and Snap is a notable legal proceeding with industry-wide implications, but it is an early procedural step affecting two plaintiffs rather than an enacted law, ruling, or immediate broad impact.
5 Critical Reader Jury selection starting in a bellwether trial against Meta and Snap is a concrete legal step with potential industry-wide implications, but no verdict or ruling has occurred and the case involves only two plaintiffs, so impact is currently moderate.
5 Science & Tech Analyst A significant bellwether trial against Meta and Snap over alleged platform addiction could shape a large group of similar claims, but this story reports only the start of jury selection with no verdict or ruling yet, so its immediate impact is moderate.
4 Informed Citizen Jury selection in a two-plaintiff trial is a procedural step with limited immediate impact on ordinary people, though the bellwether case could matter for many similar claims later.
4 Business Analyst Jury selection in a bellwether trial is a procedural step with limited immediate market impact, though the litigation carries some long-term financial and regulatory significance for Meta and Snap.

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