Jury selection begins in Meta, Snap social media addiction case
Summary
Jury selection began in Los Angeles in a case brought against Meta and Snap by two young plaintiffs who say the companies designed social media features that encouraged addictive use and harmed their mental health. TikTok and YouTube settled before trial, and Meta settled with one plaintiff; Meta and Snap dispute the remaining claims. The trial is expected to continue until mid-December, with opening statements scheduled for early November.Key Facts
- The plaintiffs sued in 2023, alleging that features such as endless scrolling and Snapstreaks encouraged compulsive use.
- The remaining plaintiff, identified as K.D.B., is 18 and says using Meta platforms and Snapchat contributed to mental health problems and self-harm.
- The other plaintiff, identified as S.J., is 16; Meta settled her claims before trial.
- TikTok and YouTube, owned by Alphabet, settled before the trial.
- Meta and Snap say other factors contributed to the plaintiffs’ difficulties and dispute the allegations.
- The plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages.
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel are expected to testify.
- Judge Carolyn Kuhl is presiding, and Meta and Snap have asked to hold separate trials; the judge has not ruled on that request.
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