A jury in Los Angeles reached a verdict on March 25, determining that Meta, the parent company of Instagram, and Google, the owner of YouTube, intentionally developed platforms that foster addiction and harm children’s mental health. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old named Kaylee, has been awarded $6 million in damages.
The jury concluded that both companies acted with malice, pressure, or deceit. Kaylee will receive $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages, with Meta responsible for 70% of the total and Google for 30%.
Both companies have expressed their disagreement with the verdict and plan to appeal. Meta emphasized that the issue of adolescent mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single application. A spokesperson for Google characterized YouTube as a video streaming platform rather than a social media site.
Kaylee shared her experience of starting to use Instagram at the age of nine and YouTube at six, noting that neither platform attempted to restrict her access based on her age.
“I stopped communicating with my family because I spent all my time on social media,” she testified.
By the age of ten, she began experiencing anxiety and depression, later being diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder, a condition characterized by excessive concern over one’s appearance. Kaylee also started using Instagram filters that altered her facial features, making her nose smaller and her eyes larger.
Her attorneys argued that features on Instagram, such as the endless scrolling feed, are designed to create dependency. They contended that Meta aimed to attract younger users, as they tend to spend more time on the platform.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri refuted claims that using the platform for 16 hours a day indicated addiction, labeling such behavior as “problematic” for adolescents.
In February 2026, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the jury, referencing the prohibition of registrations for children under 13. When presented with internal documents indicating Meta’s awareness of younger children on its platforms, Zuckerberg stated that he had “always wanted faster progress” in identifying minors.
Snap and TikTok, also named as defendants in the case, reached settlement agreements with Kaylee prior to the trial, although the amounts have not been disclosed.
Just a day before the Los Angeles verdict, a jury in New Mexico found Meta liable for exposing children to dangers and granting access to explicit sexual content and contact with sexual predators through its platforms.
A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Meta and Google are liable for creating platforms harmful to children's mental health, awarding $6 million to a young plaintiff. This verdict follows similar findings in New Mexico, highlighting ongoing concerns about the impact of social media on youth.
Source: BBC