A jury in Los Angeles has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive products that harmed a young user, awarding damages of $6m. Meta will pay 70% of the sum, with YouTube covering the remainder. The verdict, reached after nearly nine days of deliberations, marks the first trial of its kind over social media's alleged harm to young people.
The plaintiff, identified as KGM, testified that she became addicted to YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, leading to depression and self-harm by age 10. Her lawyers argued that features like infinite scroll and autoplay were engineered to keep users hooked, comparing the companies' tactics to those of big tobacco in the 1990s.
During the six-week trial, jurors heard from executives, whistleblowers, and experts. The 12-person panel ruled 10-2 that the companies' negligence was a substantial factor in KGM's harm and that they failed to provide adequate warnings. KGM's lawyers called the verdict a historic moment for thousands of affected families.
Meta and YouTube have both stated they will appeal. A Meta spokesperson said teen mental health is complex and cannot be linked to a single app, while YouTube argued it is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site. The verdict comes a day after Meta was ordered to pay $375m in a separate New Mexico case over child safety.
