A jury in the United States has delivered a landmark verdict against Meta and YouTube, finding both tech giants liable on all counts in a case that accused them of deliberately designing addictive platforms that harmed a young woman’s mental health.
Jurors concluded that the companies were negligent in how their platforms were built, were aware of the potential dangers, failed to warn users, and ultimately caused significant harm to the plaintiff.
The ruling could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits and potentially reshape how social media platforms operate, particularly for younger users. It also exposes the companies to substantial financial losses, possibly reaching into the billions.
The case is widely seen as a turning point in the debate over social media’s impact, following years of concern from parents, advocacy groups, and lawmakers about risks ranging from mental health struggles to online exploitation.
The lawsuit was filed by Kaley, now 20, and her mother against Meta, YouTube, Snap, and TikTok.
They accused the companies of deliberately targeting her as a child, leading to anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts. Snap and TikTok settled before the trial began.
After more than eight days of deliberation following a seven-week trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, the jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages. They also recommended $900,000 in punitive damages against YouTube and $2.1 million against Meta.
Jurors apportioned responsibility, assigning 70% of the blame to Meta and 30% to YouTube.
Kaley attended the proceedings alongside other parents who say their children suffered harm linked to social media use.
Both companies have said they will challenge the ruling.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” a Meta spokesperson said. “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”
A spokesperson for Google, José Castañeda, added that the lawsuit “misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”
Despite denying the allegations, both companies pointed to safety measures such as parental controls and privacy protections aimed at younger users.
Kaley’s case is the first among more than 1,500 similar lawsuits to reach trial. While the verdict is not binding on other cases, it could influence future rulings. Continued legal setbacks could force sweeping platform changes and expose tech firms to massive financial liabilities.
More trials are expected later this year, including lawsuits brought by school districts and state attorneys general—an escalating legal battle some have likened to Big Tech’s version of the tobacco industry reckoning.
The verdict also follows a separate decision by a New Mexico jury, which found Meta liable for violating consumer protection laws and failing to shield children from sexual predators.
Advocates say the ruling represents long-awaited accountability.
“Social media giants would never have faced trial if they had prioritized kids’ safety over engagement,” said James Steyer of Common Sense Media. “Instead, they buried their own research showing children were being harmed, and used kids and society as guinea pigs in massive, uncontrolled, and wildly profitable experiments. Now, executives are being held to account.”
During the trial, Kaley described how her compulsive use of the platforms still affects her daily life, including stepping away from work to scroll and spending hours altering her appearance with filters.
Meta argued that her mental health struggles stemmed from a difficult upbringing rather than social media use. However, her lawyer, Mark Lanier, countered that this made it even more critical for the companies to implement stronger protections.
YouTube also challenged her claims, citing usage data suggesting limited daily activity. Lanier responded that she often accessed the platform without logging in, a common behavior among young users.
The trial featured testimony from high-profile executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and YouTube engineering executive Cristos Goodrow. While Mosseri acknowledged social media could be “problematic,” he rejected the idea that it is “clinically addictive.” Goodrow testified that his own children spend hours on YouTube and that he believes the platform is “good” for them.
Internal company documents presented in court revealed efforts to attract younger users and highlighted awareness of potential risks.
One example showed Meta proceeding with “beauty” filters despite warnings from employees and experts about their possible psychological harm.
