Social-media companies face landmark child-harm trials this week

Opening statements begin this week in Los Angeles in a bellwether trial against Meta and YouTube over allegations their platforms harmed children, and a separate New Mexico trial also starts with related claims.

Opening statements begin this week in a Los Angeles bellwether trial that tests claims social-media companies harmed children. The lawsuits were filed by parents, school districts and others who say platform design choices increased youth engagement and contributed to mental-health and safety problems. Plaintiffs allege companies used features to boost profits that had harmful effects on young users. A related trial in New Mexico is also starting with allegations about the platforms' role in spreading sexually exploitative material. Key facts: - Opening statements in Los Angeles are scheduled to begin this week for a bellwether trial involving plaintiffs who say Meta and YouTube deliberately designed features that harmed children. - Plaintiffs' core allegation is that certain design choices increased engagement among minors and worsened mental-health and safety harms, and some suits have been selected as bellwether cases to test broader claims. - A separate New Mexico trial is set to start with claims that Meta's platforms failed to protect young users from sexual exploitation, and opening statements there are also scheduled to begin this week. Summary: These proceedings are early, high-profile test cases among many similar lawsuits and are intended to shape how courts handle claims about platform design and liability. Opening statements are under way in Los Angeles and are set to begin in New Mexico this week, with further bellwether proceedings planned later in the year.