Los Angeles jury finds Meta and YouTube liableMeta and YouTube liable for addictive platform design
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for designing their platforms to be addictive to young users and failing to warn of potential harms, awarding $6 million in damages to a now 20-year-old plaintiff identified as KGM. The plaintiff testified that she spent up to 16 hours daily on Meta and YouTube platforms as a child, which exacerbated her mental health struggles. The jury determined Meta bore 70 percent responsibility and YouTube 30 percent, finding both companies knew their platforms could be dangerous for minors yet failed to provide adequate warnings. The landmark verdict, reached after seven weeks of trial and over 40 hours of deliberation, is expected to set precedent for thousands of pending lawsuits against tech companies nationwide and reshape how they are held accountable for children's harm.
Meta and Google's Position
Meta stated that teen mental health is "profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app," arguing that the company's products alone cannot be held responsible for mental health outcomes. YouTube's legal team sought to distance the video-sharing platform from Instagram and other social media apps, contending that its functions are fundamentally different and that "YouTube was a toy that a child liked and then put down."
Plaintiffs' Counsel
Court-appointed co-lead plaintiffs' counsel Lexi Hazam stated: "Today, a jury saw the truth and held Meta and Google accountable for designing products that addict and harm children. This verdict sends an unmistakable message that no company is above accountability." The verdict is viewed as a transformative moment in the debate over social media addiction and corporate responsibility for children's welfare.
- Meta faced a second major ruling within a week, with a New Mexico jury issuing a $375 million penalty against the company in a separate case.
- The trial lasted six weeks and involved testimony from top executives, whistleblowers, and expert witnesses on social media and addiction.
