A jury in Los Angeles, California, found Meta and YouTube liable for negligence in a high-profile social media addiction trial on March 25, 2026. The jury awarded a total of $6 million in damages to the plaintiff, identified as Kaley, who has experienced significant mental health issues attributed to her early and extensive use of social media.
The verdict included $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. Meta was held responsible for 70% of the damages, while YouTube accounted for the remaining 30%. The trial lasted over a month and featured testimony from addiction experts and executives, including Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Kaley, who began using YouTube at the age of 6, reported experiencing depression and anxiety as a result of her social media use. The case is seen as a bellwether trial, potentially influencing thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies regarding their impact on youth mental health.
Notably, TikTok and Snap were also named as defendants but settled before the trial commenced. The jury deliberated for 44 hours before reaching their verdict, highlighting the complexity of the case and the issues at stake.
In response to the verdict, a spokesperson for Google stated, “We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal. This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.” Similarly, a spokesperson for Meta remarked, “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”
Joseph VanZandt, co-lead lawyer for the plaintiff, expressed that the verdict serves as a significant message to the industry: “For years, social media companies have profited from targeting children while concealing their addictive and dangerous design features. Today’s verdict is a referendum — from a jury, to an entire industry — that accountability has arrived.”
Juror Victoria added, “We wanted them to feel it. We wanted them to realize this was unacceptable.” This trial marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about the responsibilities of social media platforms in relation to their young users.
