A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable for designing their platforms in ways that foster addiction and neglected the well‑being of young users. The plaintiff, a 20‑year‑old woman, said her mental health was harmed after watching YouTube at age six, joining Instagram at nine and becoming addicted to social media.
The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta responsible for 70% and YouTube for 30%. Jurors later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages. “Today’s verdict is a referendum — from a jury, to an entire industry — that accountability has arrived,” the plaintiff’s lead counsel said.
The plaintiff had also sought damages from Snap (Snapchat) and TikTok; those companies settled before trial, though settlement terms were not disclosed.
At trial, lawyers for the plaintiff pointed to design features meant to “hook” users — infinite scrolling, autoplay and persistent notifications. Meta and Google (owner of YouTube) disputed the verdict. Meta said it “respectfully disagree[s]” and is evaluating legal options; Google also intends to appeal. Meta’s lawyers argued therapists did not identify social media as the cause of the plaintiff’s struggles and highlighted her difficult home life, but the legal standard required only that social media be a “substantial factor,” not the sole cause.
The decision adds to growing legal and regulatory pressure on social media companies. Recently, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable in a child‑safety lawsuit and ordered $375 million in civil penalties; Meta has signaled it will appeal that ruling. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg testified in the Los Angeles trial last month. Meta’s market valuation remains around $1.5 trillion.
Edited by: Sean Sinico