Walser Wealth Management President Rebecca Walser responds to more than three dozen states suing Meta, claiming Facebook and Instagram features harm children on Making Money.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court in a landmark trial over claims that social media platforms harm children — his first time answering youth safety allegations before a jury.
The main lawsuit, KGM v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al., was filed by a 20-year-old California woman identified by her initials. She claims Meta and other social media companies designed their platforms to attract young users, fueling her depression and suicidal thoughts, and she is trying to hold the companies accountable.
Metas Instagram And Google’s YouTube denies the allegations, citing years of extensive safety features and parental controls as part of their defense. The tech titans are expected to point to other factors in KGM’s lives, highlight their investments in the safety of young people and argue that they should not be held responsible for harmful content uploaded by users.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., during a dinner with technology leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, September 4, 2025. (Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images/Getty Images)
A verdict for the plaintiff, KGM, could set a precedent for the arrest technical companies responsible for harmful design decisions, despite years of successfully invoking Section 230’s content liability shield. Section 230 is a federal law that largely protects online platforms from lawsuits related to user-posted content.
A rejection of that defense could pave the way for similar lawsuits across the country, exposing Meta and other tech companies to billions in damages and pressuring them to redesign their platforms.
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This photo illustration shows the TikTok app on a phone on March 13, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Getty Images)
In addition to this case, Meta and Google face more than 2,300 related lawsuits filed by parents, school districts and attorneys general in federal court.
The wave of lawsuits reflects a growing backlash against social media companies over concerns about their impact on children’s mental health and safety. Lawmakers, parents and regulators have increasingly accused platforms of prioritizing growth and engagement over protecting young users.
In New MexicoOpening statements began Monday in a separate case brought by the state’s attorney general accusing Meta of exposing minors to sexual exploitation and profiting from it — charges the company denies.
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Meta and Google face more than 2,300 related lawsuits filed by parents, school districts and attorneys general in federal court. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The research is not limited to the United States.
Countries including Australia and Spain have taken steps to restrict access to social media for users under the age of 16, citing concerns about addiction, online harm and mental health. Other governments are weighing similar age-based limits as pressure mounts globally.
