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Feb. 2, 2026

Jurors raise parental responsibility in social media addiction trial

Prospective jurors debated parental responsibility as voir dire began in a bellwether trial accusing Meta and Google of addicting minors, previewing disputes over causation, mental health, and platform design features.

Jurors raise parental responsibility in social media addiction trial
Lanier Law Firm founder Mark Lanier

Some prospective jurors voiced skepticism toward the plaintiff's claims and emphasized parental responsibility as voir dire began Friday in a bellwether trial over whether social media platforms addict and harm minors.

The questioning followed "mini-opening statements" from lawyers for a young plaintiff and for Meta Platforms and Google about whether social media "addiction" or pre-existing factors caused a teenager's mental health struggles.

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