The Daily Aus The world-first social media court case
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Feb 2, 2026 A landmark U.S. trial accuses major platforms of designing features that addict young people and harm mental health. The conversation covers alleged addictive mechanics like infinite scroll and autoplay. They look at which companies are targeted, ongoing related lawsuits, and how a bellwether trial could reshape platform design and legal responsibility worldwide.
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Early Use Linked To Lasting Harm
- The complaint says KGM started social media at age 10 and developed depression, anxiety, and body image issues over time.
- Lawyers argue platform design, not just content, robbed her of childhood and is typical for many kids.
Bellwether Case Could Reshape Litigation
- This trial is a bellwether test case that could shape thousands of similar lawsuits worldwide.
- How it goes will likely influence legal strategy and outcomes across many pending suits.
Design Features Are The Focus
- The lawsuit targets product features like push notifications, autoplay, infinite scroll and recommendation algorithms as deliberate hooks.
- Plaintiffs call these 'dopamine-driven feedback loops' that hijack young users' reward systems.