Bellwether Trial Could Redraw Social Media’s Legal Boundaries
A landmark bellwether case accusing Meta and YouTube of engineering addictive social platforms that harmed a young user could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits and spark broader online-safety reforms. With Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg testifying and plaintiffs citing internal documents about preteen use and scrolling time, the trial echoes Big Tobacco-era litigation while the companies dispute causation and highlight safety features. The outcome may steer future cases and regulatory scrutiny across the tech industry.