Los Angeles Jury Holds Meta and Google Accountable for Harm to Child Users

A Los Angeles jury has found Instagram and YouTube liable for designing their platforms in a way that contributed to addiction and harm among young users. The case involved Kaley G.M., a 20-year-old plaintiff from Chico, California, who argued that the platforms intentionally targeted children and engineered their apps to keep them engaged for extended periods. After seven weeks of trial and over 40 hours of deliberations, the jury awarded Kaley $3 million in damages, with additional punitive damages bringing the total judgment against Meta and Google to $6 million. Liability was split 70% to Meta and 30% to Google. This landmark verdict follows a similar New Mexico case against Meta, and it may set a precedent for thousands of pending lawsuits across the country seeking to hold tech companies accountable for children’s harm. Experts note the case is particularly significant because it challenges protections previously provided under Section 230, a 1996 law shielding platforms from liability for user content. Internal documents presented during the trial were cited as key evidence showing the companies’ awareness of risks to young users. Both Meta and Google have stated they plan to appeal the verdicts. The trial highlights the growing legal and societal debate over social media addiction, the responsibility of tech companies, and the protection of children online.