Trending Now - Final Appeals Launched in Pivotal Social Media Addiction Case
WHO:
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta
Kaley, a 20-year-old plaintiff in the case, referred to as K.G.M. in documents
Mary Rodee, mother of Riley Basford, who died by suicide at age 15
Lori Schott, mother of Annalee, who died by suicide at age 18
Annie McGrath, mother of Griffin, who died at age 13
Matthew Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center
Paul Schmidt, lead attorney for Meta
José Castañeda, spokesperson for YouTube
Brandy Roberts, mother of Englyn, who died by suicide at age 14
Deb Schmill, mother of Becca, who died at age 18 from fentanyl poisoning
WHAT:
Closing statements in the trial will begin on March 16th, 2026.
The jury will listen to closing arguments before heading to the deliberation room to decide on the liability of social media companies for harms caused to children using their platforms.
The trial has lasted about five weeks, with jury deliberations expected to begin on March 15th, 2026.
A trial is taking place regarding social media addiction and its alleged impact on mental health.
The jury is tasked with determining if Meta and Google were negligent in their product designs.
The trial is a bellwether case that could influence thousands of similar lawsuits.
TikTok and Snap were also named defendants but settled before the trial began.
Jury deliberations are expected to begin on March 15th, 2026.
Parents of children who died due to social media-related issues are attending the trial to advocate for awareness and change.
WHERE:
The trial is being held at the Spring Street Courthouse in Los Angeles, California.
WHEN:
The trial began in February 2026 and is expected to conclude with jury deliberations starting on March 15th, 2026.
Kaley's testimony occurred during the trial, which has lasted about a month.
WHY:
Kaley's attorneys argue that she was preyed upon as a vulnerable user, while attorneys for Meta and Google-owned YouTube contend that she used their platforms as a coping mechanism for her mental health struggles.
Parents believe social media platforms contributed to their children's mental health struggles and deaths.
The case aims to hold social media companies accountable for allegedly addictive designs that harm users.
HOW:
Meta's lawyer, Paul Schmidt, stated that the core question in the case is whether the platforms were a substantial factor in Kaley's mental health struggles.
The trial includes testimonies from addiction experts, therapists, platform engineers, and executives.
Meta and Google are defending themselves by arguing that other factors in Kaley's life contributed to her mental health issues.
The plaintiffs are attempting to prove that the platforms' designs were a proximate cause of harm to users.
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 03:42 UTC)
The trial concerning the liability of social media companies for harms caused to children is set to wrap up with closing statements beginning on March 16. After about five weeks of proceedings, the jury is expected to start deliberations on March 15, as both sides present their arguments regarding Kaley's experiences on these platforms. While Kaley's attorneys claim she was targeted as a vulnerable user, Meta's lawyer argues that the key issue is whether these platforms significantly contributed to her mental health challenges.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 01:26 UTC)
A significant trial is currently underway at the Spring Street Courthouse in Los Angeles, where parents of children who died by suicide are advocating for accountability from social media giants Meta and Google, alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health struggles. The jury will soon begin deliberations on March 15, as they consider whether these companies were negligent in their product designs, following testimonies from addiction experts and the plaintiffs, including 20-year-old Kaley, who has shared her experiences. This case is seen as a bellwether that could influence thousands of similar lawsuits, especially after TikTok and Snap settled before the trial began.