Law firm town hall in California puts children's online safety in the spotlight

A California law firm that handles social media addiction claims has held a public town hall on the risks children face online, bringing together federal agents, lawyers and a family therapist in front of a live audience and thousands of viewers watching at home.

Keosian Law LLP hosted the event, titled "Beyond the Screen: Social Media, Gaming & Our Kids", on 15 September at Republic Venue in Sherman Oaks, which donated the space. The firm streamed it live on its Facebook page, and viewers watching online were able to put questions to the panel.

What the event covered

The programme focused on social media and gaming addiction, cyberbullying and online predators. Speakers included two from Homeland Security Investigations: Joseph DeLuca, a Special Agent based at HSI Los Angeles International Airport, and Celina Gasparian of DHS/HSI, who jointly presented a session titled "From Abductions to Cyberbullying: Protecting Our Children".

The firm's own lawyers spoke alongside them. Melkon Rafi Melkonian, Managing Attorney and Partner, gave a talk on Roblox and the risks facing children. Eileen Keusseyan, Senior Counsel, spoke on what the programme described as the hidden dangers of social media. Harout Greg Keosian, Founding Partner, acted as master of ceremonies.

Nora Chitilian, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, closed the speaker list with a session titled "What Are Our Children Seeking Online?"

Guests in attendance included Gary Chivichyan, an Armenian-American professional basketball player and entrepreneur; Sona Movsesian, a bestselling author and podcast co-host; Sareen Nersis, a board-certified behaviour analyst; and Valerie Hambas Sarkissian, founder of the nonprofit Inclusion Matters.

Why the firm held it

In a statement, Harout Greg Keosian said parents need straightforward information about what their children might come across on the platforms they use every day, and a setting where hard questions can be asked without embarrassment. He said the firm organised the evening to put that discussion in the open and to show families where support can be found.

Melkonian said families who believe a child has been harmed through social media or online gaming should have the chance to learn what legal avenues exist. He said the firm's role is to hear families out, look at what happened and set out the possibilities.

Keosian Law LLP says it is currently running litigation over social media addiction and online gaming, including claims involving Roblox. The firm has invited parents, guardians and anyone with questions to contact it directly.

The wider picture in the United States

The event comes at a busy moment for court cases over harm to children from social media and gaming platforms in the United States. On 24 March 2026, a jury in New Mexico found Meta liable under the state's Unfair Practices Act for misleading the public about the safety of its platforms, according to the New Mexico Department of Justice. The court ordered 375 million dollars, about £276 million, in civil penalties, calculated at 5,000 dollars for each violation. The case had been brought by the state's Attorney General.

More trials against the major platforms were scheduled for October 2026, with three personal injury cases set against YouTube, Snap and Meta. In July, a second trial had been due to begin, but TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube settled with the plaintiff instead, according to reporting on the addiction trials.

How the UK differs

For UK readers, the route to accountability runs mainly through regulation rather than the courts. The Online Safety Act 2023 gives Ofcom powers over platforms and is built around oversight rather than individual lawsuits, in contrast to the United States, where families sue the companies themselves.

Separately, the Information Commissioner's Office publishes the Children's code, formally called "Age appropriate design". It sets guidance for apps, games, websites and social media that children are likely to use, even where those products were not made for children.

The Sherman Oaks town hall sits within that American litigation landscape: a firm active in social media claims using a public forum to set out what it says families should know, from the warning signs of addiction to the work of federal agents who investigate online exploitation. The firm says it plans to keep hearing from families who want to understand their position, and has published contact details for anyone wishing to get in touch.

Anyone affected by the issues in this article can contact Samaritans free on 116 123 or at samaritans.org.