Bellwether Verdict in LA County Social Media Trial Is Victory for Young People and Their Families

In response to the verdict in the landmark social media lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by 20-year-old K.G.M., which alleges that major social media companies are responsible for designing products that cause mental and physical health harms, Issue One Vice President of Advocacy Alix Fraser issued the following statement.

“Today’s verdict is a victory for young people, their families, and all Americans, marking a critical turning point in the fight to hold Big Tech accountable. The message is clear: the industry cannot continue to treat the youngest generation as its guinea pigs without consequences.

“This case was about more than one outcome. It was about young people like K.G.M., whose experiences forced a long-overdue reckoning with an industry that has operated for years without meaningful accountability.

“For weeks, some of the most powerful technology companies in the world were forced to answer questions under oath. Whistleblowers spoke candidly about internal decisions, and documents companies fought to keep hidden entered the public record. This represents a crucial step forward and highlights the urgent need for transparency laws that give families, policymakers, and the public consistent access to the information necessary to hold these companies accountable.

“The trial process exposed how these platforms are designed, how risks to young users are understood internally, and how those risks have too often been outweighed by the pursuit of growth and profit. Today’s verdict builds on that truth. It affirms that young people are not test subjects for unproven products that prioritize profit-at-all-cost.

“No other industry enjoys the level of legal protection tech companies have relied on. This verdict begins to crack that shield and move us closer to a system where accountability is the norm, not the exception.

“But there is more work to do. Families deserve their day in court. As these cases continue to move forward, one thing is clear: it’s time for policymakers in Congress to pass kids online safety legislation and open liability pathways to ensure that the law keeps pace with the realities of modern technology.”