Shumita Basu

She told us today's case in California is being brought by an anonymous 19-year-old plaintiff known as KGM, who will argue that social media robbed her of her childhood.

The tech companies dispute this.

YouTube says it's fundamentally distinct from the other social media companies.

And Meta is expected to say it was not the cause of KGM's problems.

They argue that they offer ways for people to protect themselves from undesirable experiences and say the evidence doesn't conclusively prove addiction.

Here's Mark Zuckerberg talking to Congress back in 2020.

Nix reports that the existing body of research paints a complex picture, and causation could be hard to prove.

She quotes one expert who said a recent study tracking students showed that some of those with the worst mental health came from two extremes, either little to no social media usage or very high usage.

And a report from the American Psychological Association a couple years ago found that social media use was neither inherently beneficial or harmful.

But critics point to internal company research and prominent whistleblowers who say executives know that their content causes harm.

And the case will be closely watched because through the trial, a lot is going to be revealed about these companies' internal workings.

One company involved in the suit, Snapchat, has already opted to settle for an undisclosed fee.

And finally, a few other stories we're following.

The deadly winter storm that swept across much of the country over the weekend is on its way out, but the National Weather Service says a deep freeze will now set in for about two-thirds of the eastern U.S.

Record cold temperatures are expected in the southern plains and Mississippi Valley.

The mid-Atlantic will see temperatures in the single digits.

So far, 30 people have died in connection with the storm, according to the AP, and damage estimates are as high as $115 billion.

The storm was the biggest accumulation of snow in years for millions of people.

Officials in multiple states are advising people to stay home and off the roads if you're in an area experiencing extreme cold.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has broken with the CDC on vaccine recommendations.