In a significant legal development, a jury in Los Angeles found Meta and YouTube liable for negligence in a social media addiction trial on March 25, 2026. The jury awarded $6 million to the plaintiff, identified as Kaley, who began using social media at the tender age of six and has since struggled with depression and anxiety attributed to her experiences online.
The trial, which lasted over a month, included extensive testimony from addiction experts and high-profile executives, including Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg. After 44 hours of deliberation, the jury determined that Meta was responsible for 70% of the damages, while YouTube accounted for the remaining 30%.
This case is seen as a bellwether trial, potentially setting a precedent for 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.
Kaley’s case highlights the growing concern over the addictive nature of social media platforms and their effects on young users. As the jury’s verdict indicates, the legal system may be starting to hold these companies accountable for their role in fostering environments that can lead to mental health issues among children and teenagers.
In response to the verdict, a spokesperson for Google, which owns YouTube, 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.” Meanwhile, a Meta spokesperson 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 referendum from the jury to the entire industry, emphasizing that accountability has arrived. Juror Victoria added, “We wanted them to feel it. We wanted them to realize this was unacceptable.”
The trial is part of a larger trend of lawsuits against social media companies regarding their impact on youth mental health, a topic that has gained increasing attention in recent years. As the legal landscape evolves, the implications of this verdict could resonate across the industry, prompting further scrutiny and potential changes in how these platforms operate.
As Meta and YouTube prepare to appeal the decision, the outcome of this trial may influence future cases and the ongoing dialogue surrounding social media’s responsibilities towards its younger users.
