A US trial in Los Angeles opened its second day on Tuesday, examining whether YouTube and Meta deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive to children.
YouTube’s lawyer argued the platform is not social media and cannot cause addiction, comparing it instead to educational tools or streaming services like Netflix.
The case centers on a 20-year-old woman, Kaley G.M., who claims severe mental harm from early exposure to YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
Plaintiffs’ witnesses, including a Stanford professor, described social media as a “gateway drug” that exploits undeveloped teenage brains.
The trial is seen as a bellwether that could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits against tech giants over youth addiction and mental health.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 12, 2026
YOUTUBE CLAIMS IT’S A PLATFORM, NOT SOCIAL MEDIA, IN ADDICTION LAWSUIT
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