A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury has found Meta Platforms and YouTube negligent in a high-profile social media addiction case and ordered the companies to pay $3 million in damages.
The verdict followed claims by a 20-year-old woman that her early and long-term use of social media platforms contributed to her addiction and worsened her depression.
The case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits against companies including Meta Platforms and YouTube that claim their products are deliberately designed to maximize user engagement at the expense of young users’ mental health.
Part of broader lawsuits involving 1,600 plaintiffs
The trial, which took place in Los Angeles County, is the first of a consolidated class of cases involving more than 1,600 plaintiffs. They include more than 350 families and more than 250 school districts.
The proceedings began last month and featured testimony from top executives, including Mark Zuckerberg.
Plaintiffs say the platforms “wired” children’s behavior
According to the class-action lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that the major platforms fundamentally changed the thinking and behavior of young users.
Instagram and Facebook (owned by Meta), YouTube, as well as TikTok and Snap Inc., have been accused of “reprogramming how our children think, feel and behave.”
Plaintiff describes impact on mental health
The plaintiff, identified as KGM, is now 20 years old but was a minor during the period covered by the suit. She testified that excessive use of social media significantly affected her mental health.
“It really affected my self-worth,” she told the court, describing experiences of depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia.
She added that she found her use compulsive: “she wanted to be on the platforms all the time” and was afraid she would come if she logged out.
Snape, TikTok settled in court
While Snap and TikTok were originally named as defendants, the two companies reached a settlement with the plaintiff before the trial began. The terms of these agreements have not been disclosed.
However, Meta and YouTube chose to challenge the claims in court, leading to a jury finding of negligence.
The companies deny the accusations
Lawyers for the companies have denied the allegations, arguing that their platforms — including Instagram Meta — are not designed to be harmful or addictive.
This is followed by a $375 million fine in the case of New Mexico
The decision comes after another setback for Meta in New Mexico, where a separate jury found the company liable for violating state consumer protection laws and harming the mental health of children.
In that case, Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in fines, although the company said it plans to appeal the decision.
Growing legal scrutiny on social media firms
The latest verdict adds to growing legal pressure on major tech platforms over their impact on younger users, particularly over allegations of addictive design and inadequate warranties.
