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The courtroom doors are open—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
In this Week 1 recap of The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, we take you inside the very beginning of what some are calling the tobacco trials of our generation: the first case in the social media addiction litigation, where some of the most powerful companies in the world—Meta and YouTube—are facing off against a child.
This week was all about jury selection. But don’t let the term fool you—some trials are effectively decided here.
From the courthouse, hosts Nicki Petrossi (of Scrolling 2 Death) and Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) break down what actually happened during the week, why it matters, and what an “impartial juror” even looks like in a world saturated by social media.
We’re joined by:
- Attorney Laura Marquez Garrett (SMVLC), with legal context on jury selection, the TikTok and Snap settlements, and what Big Tech fears most as this trial moves forward.
- Julianna Arnold, founding member of Parents RISE and mom to Coco, who passed awayat 17 from social media harms—and now a plaintiff in the consolidated case—sharing what it feels like to finally be this close to the truth.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- What stood out emotionally and ethically inside the courtroom
- How 450 potential jurors were narrowed down—and why that process can make or break the case
- Why media access is already a fight, with only 10 seats available for press
- The growing comparisons between these trials and Big Tobacco—and what history tells us
- What survivor parents are bracing for as testimony begins
Plus: what’s coming next, including opening statements, witness testimony, and the anticipated appearance of Mark Zuckerberg.
We’re inside the courtroom so parents everywhere don’t have to guess what’s happening behind closed doors.
Because this trial—and the ones that follow—will shape the future of child safety online.
Next week: Final jury selection and Opening Statements.
Stay with us. Share this episode. And keep paying attention.
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