Meta, Alphabet Face Jury in Landmark US Trial Over Child Social Media Addiction

• A landmark US trial begins, examining if social media companies deliberately design platforms to addict children.
• Alphabet (YouTube) and Meta (Instagram) are defendants in the case, facing accusations of causing depression, eating disorders, and suicide in young users.
• CEOs, including Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to be called as witnesses.
• Plaintiffs' lawyers are using strategies from tobacco industry lawsuits, arguing companies sold a harmful product.
• Social media firms cite Section 230 for protection, but the case focuses on business models designed to promote harmful content.