A Los Angeles jury has found YouTube and Meta Platforms liable for negligence in a case involving a young woman who said she became addicted to their platforms from an early age.
The jury ruled that the design and operation of the platforms contributed to the plaintiff’s mental health challenges, awarding $3 million in compensatory damages. Meta was assigned 70 per cent of the liability.
Jurors also agreed that both companies could face additional punitive damages, which are yet to be determined.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused several platforms, including Instagram, of creating addictive environments that negatively affect young users. According to court filings, the plaintiff began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine.
A therapist who treated the plaintiff testified that her prolonged social media use contributed to mental health conditions, including social anxiety and body image issues.
Both companies have challenged the verdict. Meta argued that teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single platform, while YouTube maintained that its services are not designed to be addictive.
Legal analysts say appeals are likely as the case could set a significant precedent for how social media companies are held accountable for user wellbeing.
