Meta & YouTube ordered to pay $3M after woman sues platforms for “social media addiction”

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As a parent, I was really interested in this case, and the jury just delivered a huge verdict! They found both Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google responsible for the addictive nature of their platforms when it comes to kids. It’s a really big deal because it’s one of the first times companies have been held legally accountable for this kind of thing.

This decision follows increasing concerns about platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, with many parents and politicians wondering how their designs affect children. The outcome of this case is being closely watched, as it could influence future legal action against tech companies.

A California jury has ordered social media platforms to pay $3 million to K.G.M., now age 20, after she argued that using the platforms as a child led to her depression and suicidal thoughts.

Jury finds platforms acted with “malice”

Wow, the jury’s decision is in! It’s a huge win for the plaintiff – they found Meta responsible for most of the damages, a full 70%! Google will be covering the rest. It took the jury nine days – that’s over 43 hours of talking it over! – after a whole month of hearing testimony and looking at all the evidence presented at trial. It’s been a long process, but they finally reached a verdict.

The jury determined that both companies acted with malicious intent, either oppressing the other party or committing fraud. Because of this, a separate hearing will be held to determine if additional, punitive damages should be awarded, and both sides will have a chance to briefly present their case.

The legal case focused on accusations that social media companies deliberately created platforms to make young people addicted. K.G.M. shared her experience, explaining she started using YouTube at six and Instagram at nine, and spent most of her childhood on these apps.

Her lawyers argued that features like never-ending scrolling, videos that start playing automatically, and constant notifications were all intentionally designed to keep people using the platform for as long as possible.

Both Meta and Google maintained throughout the trial that their platforms offer safety features and tools for parents. After the verdict, a Meta representative stated the company disagrees with the decision and is considering its next legal steps.

The lawsuit initially named TikTok and Snap Inc. as defendants, however, both companies settled before the trial began in January.

The jury needed to decide if the platforms were carelessly designed, if the companies should have foreseen the risk of harm to children, and if their services significantly contributed to the plaintiff’s mental health problems.

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2026-03-25 21:48