Los Angeles Jury Rules Meta and Google Liable in Social Media Addiction Case

A Los Angeles County jury has ruled that Meta and Google were negligent in a case linking social media use to mental health issues in a young woman. The plaintiff, Kaley G.M., claimed that Instagram and YouTube contributed significantly to her anxiety, depression, and body image issues during her adolescence. The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta responsible for 70% of the payout. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Meta was aware of the addictive nature of its platforms among teens and leveraged this knowledge to increase engagement. This ruling follows a similar child safety lawsuit loss for Meta in New Mexico and comes after TikTok and Snap settled with the plaintiff. The outcome could set a legal precedent, holding social media companies accountable for mental health harms caused by their platforms. Both Meta and Google are expected to appeal the decision, with Meta signaling its intention to dispute the verdict. The case highlights the increasing scrutiny on tech giants regarding the impact of their algorithms and safety measures on young users’ well-being, potentially opening the door to further litigation in the U.S.