Meta and YouTube Found Liable in Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

A jury has found Meta and YouTube negligent in the design and operation of their social media platforms, resulting in a landmark verdict in the first lawsuit to take tech giants to trial for social media addiction. The case, K.G.M. V. Meta et al., is considered a bellwether for over 1,600 similar lawsuits.

The Plaintiff’s Claims and Testimony

The plaintiff, K.G.M., whose first name is Kaley, alleges that early and prolonged use of social media platforms led to dependency and exacerbated her mental health issues. She began using YouTube at age six, Instagram at nine, TikTok (originally Musical.ly) at ten, and Snapchat at eleven, and testified she spent “all day” on social media as a child. Her lawsuit claims the companies intentionally engineered their platforms to be addictive, utilizing techniques like infinite scrolling.

Kaley specifically cited anxiety, body dysmorphia, and depression as consequences of her compulsive social media use.

The Verdict and Damages

After more than 40 hours of deliberation over nine days, the jury awarded K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages. Meta was found 70% responsible for the harm caused, while YouTube (owned by Google) was assigned 30% responsibility. The jury also found that Meta and Google’s YouTube intentionally built an addictive platform.

The jury’s decision opens the door for potential punitive damages, as they found the companies acted with malice.

Responses from Meta and Google

Meta released a statement expressing disagreement with the verdict and stated they are evaluating their legal options. Google spokesperson José Castañeda also disagreed with the verdict and announced plans to appeal, arguing that “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”

Settlements and Previous Rulings

Prior to the jury’s verdict, Snap Inc. And TikTok settled out of court in December 2025. In November 2025, Judge Carolyn Kuhl ruled against Meta and Google’s motion for summary judgment, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

Key Testimony

The trial included testimony from key figures within Meta and Google, including Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Meta, and Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram.

Implications for Future Lawsuits

This verdict is expected to have significant implications for the remaining 1,599 lawsuits filed against social media companies by teenagers, school districts, and state attorneys general. Co-lead counsel for K.G.M. Described the verdict as “a historic moment” for thousands of children and their families.