A jury in Los Angeles has ruled that YouTube and Meta Platforms are liable for negligence in a case involving a young woman who said she became addicted to their platforms from an early age.
The decision marks a significant moment in growing legal scrutiny of social media companies and their impact on the mental health of young users.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleged that features on platforms such as Instagram were deliberately designed to keep users engaged for long periods, creating addictive environments harmful to children. The plaintiff reportedly began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine.
Delivering the verdict, the jury found that “the design and operation of these platforms contributed substantially to the plaintiff’s mental health challenges.”
A therapist who treated the young woman told the court that “her prolonged exposure to social media played a significant role in the development of social phobia and body image issues.”
The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta held responsible for 70% of the liability. Jurors also ruled that both companies could face additional punitive damages, yet to be determined.
Reacting to the ruling, a spokesperson for Meta said, “Teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to any single platform,” while YouTube maintained that “our platform is not designed to be addictive, and we have invested in tools that promote healthy usage.”
Legal analysts say the case could set a precedent for future lawsuits. “This ruling signals a shift toward holding tech companies accountable for product design and its real-world consequences,” one expert noted.
Both companies are expected to appeal the decision as the broader debate over social media regulation continues to intensify.