Jury finds Meta and Google liable in social media addiction case
A jury in Los Angeles has held tech giants Meta and Google liable for damages in a landmark civil case centred on youth social media addiction.
The decision follows a trial in which families and advocacy groups argued that prolonged use of platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube contributed to serious harm among young users. Some parents involved in the case said their children developed eating disorders, engaged in self-harm, or died by suicide after extended exposure to the platforms.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs contended that the companies should be held legally responsible for designing features that encourage compulsive use, particularly among teenagers.
In response, both companies rejected the verdict and signalled plans to challenge the outcome. Representatives for Meta and Google said they are considering their legal options, including filing appeals.
A spokesperson for Google argued that the ruling mischaracterises YouTube, describing it as a responsibly developed streaming service rather than a social media platform. Meanwhile, a Meta spokesperson maintained that adolescent mental health is a complex issue that cannot be attributed to any single app.
