A Los Angeles jury has held Meta Platforms Inc. and YouTube liable for $6 million in a landmark lawsuit over social media addiction among minors. The case, filed in 2023 and identified as JCCP 5255, centred on a now 20-year-old plaintiff, K.G.M., and her mother, Karen, who argued that early exposure to social media from age 10 contributed to anxiety, depression, dependency, and body dysmorphia.
The jury concluded that both companies were aware that certain features of their platforms posed risks to young users but failed to provide adequate warnings. Users, the court found, were unlikely to fully understand these risks.
Lead counsel for the plaintiffs described the decision as a turning point for the technology sector, saying social media firms “profited from targeting children while concealing addictive and dangerous design features.”
Meta has said it “respectfully disagrees” with the verdict and is reviewing legal options. YouTube, through spokesperson José Castañeda, stated that it intends to appeal, arguing the case mischaracterises its platform as social media rather than a streaming service.
The trial’s focus on platform design rather than user-generated content allowed plaintiffs to sidestep protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. TikTok and Snap Inc., also named in the lawsuit, reached settlements prior to the trial.
This verdict comes months after Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in New Mexico over child safety concerns, a decision described by the state’s attorney general as a “watershed moment” for tech accountability.
Analysts say the Los Angeles ruling may influence thousands of similar lawsuits across the US that allege social media platforms harm minors’ mental health. Health experts, including the American Psychological Association, have cautioned that excessive social media use can disrupt sleep and physical activity, while former US Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has recommended warning labels to alert users to potential mental health risks.
With appeals expected, the outcome could shape future legal and regulatory frameworks, particularly regarding how technology companies design platforms for younger audiences and safeguard mental health.
