Big Tech on Trial: Why the Lost Screen Memorial Came to Los Angeles

This week, a memorial stands in Los Angeles – down the street from the courthouse where Big Tech is on trial.

The Lost Screen Memorial, designed by Archewell to pay tribute to the children lost to social media, arrived in Southern California, as bereaved families and survivors of online harm gathered for ongoing lawsuits against major social media companies. Some parents slept overnight in the rain to secure a place in the courtroom. Their determination speaks to the urgency of what’s at stake.

This week, Archewell Philanthropies also hosted many of these parent campaigners. 

The message was clear: their bravery demands action. 

These families have shown up. 

They’ve spoken truth. 

Now the platforms must answer.

Behind every screen in the memorial is a child who should still be here. 

Through our work with these families over the years, bereaved parents and survivors are transforming grief and trauma into reform, pushing for transparency and meaningful change for us all.

We were honored to have social psychologist Jonathan Haidt meet with everyone at the memorial. His research underscores what these families know intimately that the current design of social media is dangerous for children and that accountability is long overdue.

We stand with these parents. 

They are fighting not just for their own children, but for parents and families worldwide – those who have faced similar tragedies, and the millions fearful of who or what their children might encounter. 

We honor their children. 

We stand with them in calling for transparency, reform, and a digital world that protects children instead of exploiting them.