Jury Finds Google and Meta Liable in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
A Los Angeles jury has found Google and Meta Platforms liable in a lawsuit alleging their social media platforms contributed to a young user’s addiction and psychological harm, in a case that centers on how their platforms are designed.
Jurors found both companies negligent and concluded they failed to warn users about risks tied to prolonged use of apps such as Instagram and YouTube. The lawsuit was brought in Los Angeles Superior Court by a 20-year-old woman identified in court filings as K.G.M., who said she became addicted to the platforms while she was a minor. The jury awarded $3 million in damages, assigning 70 percent of the liability to Meta and 30 percent to YouTube.
Snapchat and TikTok were also named in the lawsuit but reached settlements before trial.
The complaint claims features such as recommendation algorithms, autoplay functions, and frequent notifications were built to keep users engaged for extended periods. She alleges those features contributed to depression, body image issues, and suicidal thoughts tied to prolonged use of the apps.
Both companies deny those claims, saying they have introduced safety tools and parental controls and that the woman’s mental health challenges stem from personal circumstances rather than platform design. Their attorneys also argued the services were not intended to maximize time spent on the apps.
Courts selected the case as a bellwether within coordinated proceedings in California, using it to test how juries respond to the claims before moving forward with similar cases. Similar lawsuits have been filed nationwide by parents, school districts, and state officials, raising concerns about the effects of social media on younger users.
Rather than targeting user content, the allegations challenge the platforms’ design. By focusing on features such as algorithms and autoplay, the cases aim to avoid Section 230, a federal law that generally shields companies from liability for content posted by users.
The case relies on negligence claims, which require showing that the companies failed to exercise reasonable care and that their design choices caused harm. The complaint argues social media platforms have a duty to avoid creating unreasonable risks, especially for younger users, and to warn about those risks.
The ruling follows growing scrutiny of the social media industry. Congress has not passed broad legislation regulating youth use of social media, and states have moved ahead with their own laws. At least 20 states enacted measures last year addressing age verification and cellphone use in schools, while industry group NetChoice has challenged some of those laws in court.
In New Mexico, a jury found Meta violated state consumer protection laws in a lawsuit brought by the state’s attorney general over platform safety and child protection concerns. The jury awarded $375 million, and the company has said it plans to appeal.
A federal case involving similar claims is set for trial this summer, and another proceeding is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in July.
