{"id":2568083,"date":"2026-02-09T19:34:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T00:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jury-can-keep-using-platforms-at-center-of-social-media-addiction-case-judge\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T19:36:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T00:36:22","slug":"jury-can-keep-using-platforms-at-center-of-social-media-addiction-case-judge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jury-can-keep-using-platforms-at-center-of-social-media-addiction-case-judge\/","title":{"rendered":"Jury can keep using platforms at center of social media addiction case: Judge"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjury-can-keep-using-platforms-at-center-of-social-media-addiction-case-judge%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568083&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A first-of-its-kind trial in Los Angeles accuses Meta (instagram and Facebook) and youtube of engineering addictive features in their platforms. Teh plaintiff, a 19-year-old identified as K.G.M., claims that being addicted to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >social media led<\/a> to depression and suicidal thoughts. Opening statements described features like endless scrolling as tools to hook users, particularly young people. Judge Carolyn Kuhl told jurors they may continue using the platforms during the trial but should not alter how they interact with them or change settings. Meta and YouTube deny the allegations and cite Section 230 protections; Snap and TikTok were named but settled with K.G.M. before the trial. The case, which is expected to last several weeks, signals intensified scrutiny of social media\u2019s addictive potential and its impact on users, especially younger ones.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Jury can keep using platforms at center of social media addiction case: Judge<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2495897\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The judge overseeing the social media addiction case <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\">in California<\/a> told the jury to continue to use the platforms at the center of the trial that began in Los Angeles on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>The first-of-its-kind trial accusing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-media\/\">social media<\/a> companies Meta, which operates Instagram and Facebook, and YouTube of making their platforms harmfully addictive began with opening arguments after weeks of jury selection. Judge Carolyn Kuhl of the Superior <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/courts\/\">Court<\/a> of California for LA County told the jurors they may continue to use social media but should avoid changing the way they interact with the platforms and not change any settings, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/meta-instagram-youtube-social-media-addiction-los-angeles-1b409b31438e5ba46e2e8c064229b51a\">per<\/a> the <em>Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4451746\/savannah-guthrie-we-need-your-help-ransom-deadline\/\">Savannah Guthrie says &#8216;we need your help&#8217; as purported ransom deadline nears<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4450952\/legal-war-immigration-detention-policy-not-over-win\/\">Legal war over Trump&#8217;s immigration detention policy far from over despite key win<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4451293\/ghislaine-maxwell-clemency-trump-clinton-innocent\/\">Ghislaine Maxwell hints she&#8217;d help Clinton and Trump in exchange for clemency<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The trial is expected to last several weeks and centers on the claims made by a 19-year-old, identified only as K.G.M. in the lawsuit, that she became addicted to the media, blaming that addiction for leading to her depression and suicidal thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>K.G.M.&rsquo;s lawyer, Mark Lanier, centered his opening statement to the jury on the features the platforms allegedly use to get their users addicted, including endless scrolling.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This case is about two of the richest corporations who have engineered addiction in children&rsquo;s brains,&rdquo; Lanier said, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/02\/09\/tech\/instagram-youtube-social-media-trial\">per<\/a> CNN. &ldquo;The swipe, for a child, like Kaley, this motion is a handle of a slot machine. But every time she swipes, it&rsquo;s not for money, but for mental stimulation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Lanier also claimed that the case is &ldquo;easy as ABC,&rdquo; with those letters standing for &ldquo;addicting the brains of children,&rdquo; per the <em>Associated Press<\/em>, and claimed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/amy-coney-barrett-acts-clueless-about-hunter-bidens-laptop\/\" title=\"Amy Coney Barrett Acts Clueless About Hunter Biden&#039;s Laptop\">media companies&#038;rsquo<\/a>; lawyers will &ldquo;try to blame the little girl and her parents for the trap they built.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Both Meta and YouTube have strongly denied the allegations made against them about their platforms being harmfully addictive, also claiming that Section 230, a federal statute that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/social-media-companies-face-first-trial-over-addiction-to-their-platforms\/\" title=\"... first ... over ... to their ...\">generally protects online platforms<\/a> from liability for user-posted content, should prevent them from being liable in this case.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4435428\/social-media-companies-face-first-trial-over-addiction-to-their-platforms\/\">SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES FACE FIRST TRIAL OVER ADDICTION TO THEIR PLATFORMS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Snap, the owner of Snapchat, and TikTok were also named in the lawsuit, but the two companies settled with K.G.M. for an undisclosed amount ahead of the trial.<\/p>\n<p>Social media and its addictive qualities have been increasingly under the microscope for the past decade, with the heads of social media companies testifying before Congress and platforms making adjustments for younger users, but the trial in LA marks a new step in the scrutiny toward the platforms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nA California judge, Carolyn Kuhl, told jurors in the high-profile case against Meta (Instagram and Facebook) and YouTube that they may continue using social media during the trial but should not change how they interact with the apps or adjust their settings. The proceeding, which began in Los Angeles, accuses the two companies of\u690d engineered addictive features. The trial, expected to last several weeks, centers on a 19-year-old plaintiff identified as K.G.M. who says her social media use contributed to depression and suicidal thoughts. Mark Lanier, K.G.M.\u2019s attorney, argued that the platforms use strategies like endless scrolling to capture users\u2019 attention, especially children, and framed the case as a matter of \u201ctwo of the richest corporations\u201d engineering brain addiction. Meta and YouTube deny the allegations and contend that Section 230 of the federal code protects them from liability for user-posted content. Snapchat and TikTok were also named but settled with K.G.M. before the trial. The case reflects growing scrutiny of social media\u2019s addictive qualities, a topic that has drawn Congressional scrutiny and led platforms to adjust features for younger users.<\/p>\n<p>55-character title:<br \/>\nJudge lets jurors keep using platforms in trial<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2568084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP24031841476891.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4733,50433,5265,4111,73423],"class_list":["post-2568083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-court","tag-judge-2","tag-jury","tag-platforms","tag-social-media-addiction"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP24031841476891.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568083"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568087,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568083\/revisions\/2568087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}