Major US Trials Challenge Social Media Companies Over Harmful Design

Social media companies are facing a wave of litigation in the United States, drawing comparisons to the high-profile tobacco trials of the 1990s. Lawyers representing people allegedly harmed by social media are focusing not on user content, but on the platforms’ design features that may be addictive or damaging. There are over 2,000 active cases, but three are currently attracting significant attention. The first, in Los Angeles, involves a 20-year-old plaintiff known as KGM, who claims features like infinite scrolling and photo filters contributed to anxiety, depression, and body image issues. Snapchat and TikTok settled before trial, while YouTube and Meta are contesting the case. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified, asserting that the company aims to create useful services rather than prolong usage, and apologised to families impacted by social media. The second case is brought by British parents suing TikTok over their children’s deaths linked to the dangerous ‘blackout’ challenge, alleging that harmful algorithmic recommendations contributed. TikTok denies liability, highlighting content moderation measures. The third case involves a Scottish family suing Meta following the suicide of 16-year-old Murray Dowey due to sextortion on Instagram, challenging both platform safety measures and recommendation systems. If successful, these lawsuits could force social media companies to make significant changes to protect users, particularly minors, and influence the approach to online safety globally.