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An Alabama jury began hearing arguments in the first US state trial against TikTok and ByteDance over allegations that the platform fuels a teen mental health crisis. Filed by Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall, the lawsuit claims the platform is intentionally addictive, uses misleading safety marketing, and evades age restrictions. Similar litigation involves at least 27 other states and Washington, D.C. TikTok defends itself by citing Section 230 protections and emphasizing ongoing safety measures for minors. The trial in Montgomery state court is expected to last two to three weeks and could unveil heavily redacted internal company operations. This proceeding follows Meta's recent sweeping settlement with states over youth wellbeing. TikTok has previously settled other targeted trials, keeping much of its internal mechanics confidential. The outcome may set a precedent for thousands of ongoing individual and municipal lawsuits nationwide targeting major social media companies regarding adolescent mental health impacts.