LA Trial Questions Social Media’s Impact on Minors: What It Means for Parents
A U.S. lawsuit claims platforms were designed to hook kids, raising questions about whether social media can actively harm young users—and if companies knew it.
Published on Feb 23, 2026
The conversation around social media’s effect on children’s mental health is nothing new, but it is now playing out in a Los Angeles courtroom. A landmark civil trial, which began on February 9, is putting Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube under scrutiny. TikTok and Snapchat, originally named in the suit, settled before trial. The case alleges that features like endless scrolling, autoplay, and algorithmic recommendations are engineered to keep children engaged far longer than is safe, contributing to serious mental health problems. Both companies deny the allegations.
The Trial at a Glance
The LA Times reports that the lead plaintiff, a California woman identified as K.G.M., says she began using social media at age 10. She alleges Instagram exposed her to harmful content that contributed to anxiety, depression, negative body image, and self-harm, and that the company did not act when bullying and sextortion occurred on the platform.
“They wanted to capture Kaley (K.G.M.) before she even hit puberty. It’s addiction by design,” said Mark Lanier, one of the plaintiff’s attorneys.
Internal memos presented in court reportedly show Google staff discussing incentives to move toddlers from YouTube Kids to the all-ages platform, while Instagram documents from 2018 suggest targeting “tweens” to capture teens earlier.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys argue that social media algorithms and autoplay features amplify these risks, creating a continuous loop of engagement that can worsen anxiety, disrupt sleep, and heighten exposure to unsafe content. “The evidence shows these platforms were engineered to keep kids hooked,” added Lanier.
Opening arguments in the Los Angeles County Superior Court framed the trial as a bellwether: a first-of-its-kind case testing whether social media companies can be held liable for harmful product design rather than user posts. Jury selection began in late January 2026, and the trial is expected to continue into late March.
What Meta and YouTube Say
In response, Meta stated, “Plaintiffs’ lawyers have selectively cited our internal documents to create a misleading narrative. Our research and safety measures are intended to protect teens, and the evidence will show we engage with parents, experts, and academics on these issues.”
Meta’s lawyers also countered that other factors, such as family environment or personal vulnerabilities, are central to the harms described.
Meanwhile, YouTube’s legal team added that the platform is intended as a video service, not social media, and that any harms K.G.M. suffered came from other users, not the app itself.
The tech companies also pointed to safeguards they have added over the years and emphasized that they are not responsible for content posted by other users.
In an earlier blog post, Meta stated: “Recently, a number of lawsuits have attempted to place the blame for teen mental health struggles squarely on social media companies. But this oversimplifies a serious issue. Clinicians and researchers find that mental health is a deeply complex and multifaceted issue, and trends regarding teens’ well-being aren’t clear-cut or universal. Narrowing the challenges faced by teens to a single factor ignores the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today, like academic pressure, school safety, socio-economic challenges, and substance abuse.”
Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified earlier in the trial, rejecting the notion that “social media addiction” is a formal clinical diagnosis, though acknowledging problematic use can exist. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on February 18, defending Instagram’s policies and age verification measures. He acknowledged underage accounts exist but argued the company works to limit access and improve safety.
Parents Who Lost Children to Social Media Harm
In recent weeks, families gathered near the Los Angeles courthouse carrying photos of children they say were harmed by social media. Their presence drew wider public attention to the case and reinforced calls from advocacy groups urging lawmakers and tech companies to strengthen protections for young users.
For years, parents have been sounding the alarm about the dangers social media can pose to children, sharing their stories and calling for accountability.
The Lost Screen Memorial, resurfacing in February 2026 outside the Los Angeles courthouse, brings this ongoing struggle into sharp focus. Large illuminated displays honor children whose families say they were harmed or lost their lives due to social media, reminding the public of the stakes in the landmark trial.
According to the site, “This memorial is for children who have lost their lives as a result of the harm they suffered on social media. These images represent the ones their parents have on their phone lockscreens. Their faces serve as a constant reminder of what has been lost. The responsibility to keep children safe online should not lie with parents alone.”
How Social Media Features Can Influence Your Child’s Behavior
Apps like Instagram and YouTube are designed with features such as endless feeds, autoplay videos, and notifications for likes or streaks, which can encourage prolonged use by both kids and adults.
Behind the scenes, algorithms steer what they see next, showing more of the posts that already caught their attention. This can keep children engaged but it also increases the chance they encounter content that reinforces risky behaviors, body image pressures, or viral stunts. It is important for parents to be aware of these patterns.
Pediatricians and digital safety experts suggest practical steps to protect children, including: establishing phone-free times, encouraging outdoor activities, co-viewing social media to guide healthy habits, and fostering open conversations about online experiences. Experts also recommend checking privacy settings regularly and discussing the consequences of oversharing personal information.
In 2024, Smart Parenting launched the Smart Parenting Guide to Digital Parenting to meet the Filipino family's need for expert-backed, evidence-based guidance and reporting on raising children in the digital age. We've published longreads on why Filipinos need a guide for parenting kids in the face of digital advancements, imagining a Philippines with a social media ban for minors, and have continuously reported on cyberbullying. Keep visiting and following Smart Parenting to stay up to date.
Hanna is a News Desk Writer at Smart Parenting, covering parenting, health, culture, and more. Off the clock, she’s likely people-watching at a café or park, matcha latte in hand.