Meta and YouTube Lose First Major Addiction Lawsuit

A California jury has found Meta and YouTube liable in a landmark social media addiction case, ruling that the companies intentionally designed their platforms in ways that harmed a young user’s mental health.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury determined that both companies were negligent in the design of their platforms, knew the features posed risks, failed to provide adequate warnings, and caused substantial harm to the plaintiff, a now 20-year-old California woman identified in court as Kaley.

After more than eight days of deliberations following a seven-week trial, jurors ordered the companies to pay a combined total of $3 million in compensatory damages. The jury also recommended $2.1 million in punitive damages against Meta and $900,000 against YouTube. Jurors assigned 70 percent of the responsibility for Kaley’s harm to Meta and 30 percent to YouTube.

Kaley and her mother filed suit against Meta, YouTube, Snap and TikTok, alleging the companies intentionally hooked her on their platforms as a child, contributing to anxiety, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts. Snap and TikTok settled before the trial began.

The case is the first of more than 1,500 similar lawsuits filed against social media companies to go to trial. While the verdict does not determine the outcome of those cases, legal analysts say it could influence how they are resolved and potentially expose the companies to billions of dollars in damages.

In statements following the verdict, both companies said they plan to appeal.