Meta, YouTube found liable for social media addiction in landmark trial

The verdict is a breakthrough for kids’ online safety advocates after years of fighting tech.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified during the trial. | Ryan Sun/AP

A California jury in a landmark verdict with massive implications for the tech industry Wednesday found Meta and YouTube negligent for designing addictive social media platforms that harmed a child.

After more than a week of deliberation, jurors decided in favor of the plaintiff — a now 20-year-old California woman identified as K.G.M. in Los Angeles Superior Court documents — concluding that potent design features of platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook fueled her nonstop use as a teenager, exacerbating depression and suicidal ideation.

The jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta assigned 70 percent of responsibility and YouTube the rest. Ten jurors voted in favor of the plaintiffs, while two voted in favor of the defense.

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