Social media companies are having to face a jury in Los Angeles. The lawsuit aims to hold those companies accountable for the alleged harmful effects they have on children.
“It’s kind of like David and Goliath,” said Matthew Bergman, a lawyer in the case. “And it can be daunting. And these are companies that have all the resources in the world and can hire the best and the brightest lawyers. But, you know, we also have the truth on our side.”
Bergman hopes this trial is what will wear those companies down.
“When it becomes more expensive for them to make dangerous products than safe products, we’re hopeful that the platform, that their products, their conduct will change,” said Bergman.
Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, is one of the companies being sued.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who testified last month, has repeatedly stated there is no scientific proof social media causes mental health problems.
YouTube parent Google has said, “The allegations in these complaints are simply not true.”
Mother Amy Neville is following the court case closely.
“Being able to go in the courtroom and see Mark Zuckerberg testify, see some of these amazing whistleblowers testify, validates what we’ve been talking about as impacted families all of this time,” said Neville.
The Arizona mom is working on a lawsuit related to her son’s death.
“In June of 2020, we lost our 14-year-old son, Alexander, to fentanyl poisoning via Snapchat after he was connected with a drug dealer on Snapchat,” said Neville, who is featured in the documentary.
Monday night, Emily’s Hope is holding a screening for the documentary on the lawsuit happening in California. Bergman will be at the screening to talk directly to parents and kids.
“When a kid is on social media, that kid is not the customer. That kid is the product,” said Bergman.
“Many times, people just don’t know. People don’t know what’s happening online. And so, people need to learn, and educate, and protect themselves,” said Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope.