What do lawyers have to prove against Meta, YouTube in social media case?

Professor Stuart Benjamin from Duke Law School began analyzing a landmark social media addiction trial on Tuesday as jury selection commenced, following TikTok's late-night settlement agreement reached Monday, in a case targeting major tech platforms including Meta and YouTube for allegedly designing addictive platforms that harm young users. The trial represents one of the most significant legal challenges against social media companies, with plaintiffs arguing that Meta (Facebook and Instagram), YouTube, and other platforms deliberately engineered features to maximize user engagement at the expense of mental health, particularly among teenagers. The case comes amid growing public concern about the impact of social media on youth mental health, with studies linking excessive use to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders among young users. Legal experts like Benjamin note that the plaintiffs face significant challenges in proving that these companies intentionally created addictive features rather than simply providing engaging services, with the defense likely arguing that user choice and parental supervision play primary roles in social media usage patterns.