Meta, YouTube Found Responsible by California Jury Over Teen Addiction Claims
A California jury has ruled that Meta and YouTube are fully responsible for harming a young woman’s mental health, finding the tech giants deliberately designed their platforms in ways that fostered addictive behaviour. The landmark decision could reshape social media regulation and spark hundreds of similar lawsuits.
The case, brought by a 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley and her mother, alleged that the companies’ platforms caused her anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts during her teenage years. While Snap and TikTok settled before trial, Meta and YouTube went to court, where jurors found both companies negligent, aware of the risks, and failing to warn users.
After a seven-week trial at Los Angeles Superior Court, the jury deliberated for over eight days, ultimately ordering Meta and YouTube to pay $3 million in compensatory damages. Additionally, jurors recommended $2.1 million in punitive damages from Meta and $900,000 from YouTube, assigning 70% of the blame to Meta and 30% to YouTube.
Kaley attended the verdict, along with the parents of other teens who say social media negatively affected their children. Both Meta and YouTube have announced plans to appeal. Meta emphasised the complexity of teen mental health and defended its efforts to protect users, while Google described YouTube as a responsibly built streaming platform rather than a social media site.
Kaley’s case is the first of over 1,500 similar lawsuits and could influence how future cases are handled. Experts warn repeated losses could cost the tech giants billions and force major changes to their platforms. This legal push has been compared to Big Tech’s “Big Tobacco” moment, highlighting the risks of addictive digital products for children.
Parents and online safety advocates hailed the verdict as a turning point for accountability. James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, criticised the companies for prioritising engagement over child safety and called the trial a long-overdue moment of responsibility for executives.
During the trial, internal documents revealed Meta’s deliberate choices, such as adding beauty filters despite warnings from experts, to keep young users engaged. Executives from Meta and YouTube, including Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and Cristos Goodrow, testified on the potential harms and benefits of their platforms, sparking debate over the companies’ role in teen mental health.
Kaley shared how her social media use continues to disrupt her adult life, highlighting the ongoing impact of these platforms. Her attorney argued that her mental health struggles heightened the companies’ responsibility to protect young users, a key point in securing the jury’s verdict.
