The debate over social media’s impact on children’s mental health has raged for years
This is from parental concerns to government intervention.
In countries such as Australia, the issue has already prompted restrictions on social media access for children under 16.
Now, the conversation is shifting from policy rooms to the courtroom.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the first of several high-profile lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, and YouTube is set to begin this week at the Los Angeles County Superior Court
At the centre of the case is a teenage girl who alleges that prolonged exposure to multiple social media platforms throughout her childhood contributed to severe anxiety and depression.
Her lawsuit is one of dozens filed across the United States since 2022.
She accused major tech companies of knowingly designing addictive algorithms that keep children engaged for longer periods.
The plaintiffs argue that these platforms deliberately prioritised profit over child safety by amplifying content that fuels compulsive use, despite being aware of the potential psychological harm.
Also, the tech companies, however, have denied the claims.
They insisted that they are not legally responsible for user-generated content and disputing allegations of intentional harm.
The Los Angeles court is expected to examine whether social media usage is directly linked to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among children.
While some past studies suggest that children with existing mental health challenges may actually spend less time online.
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Also, experts caution that the issue is far more complex and that current research remains inconclusive.
