Google and Meta Found Liable in Landmark Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
Jurors determined that Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Google’s YouTube were negligent in the design of their apps and failed to adequately warn users about the risks. They also found the companies acted with “malice, oppression, or fraud.”
Tommy Flynn
LOS ANGELES – A California jury found Alphabet’s Google and Meta Platforms liable on March 25, 2026, in the first bellwether trial over claims that the companies designed their social media platforms to be addictive and harm young users’ mental health.
The unanimous verdict came after weeks of testimony in Los Angeles Superior Court in the case of K.G.M., a 20-year-old woman from Chico, California. She alleged she became addicted to YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 11 because of features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic content recommendations, push notifications, and auto-play videos. The plaintiff claimed these design elements caused her depression and anxiety.
Jurors determined that Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Google’s YouTube were negligent in the design of their apps and failed to adequately warn users about the risks. They also found the companies acted with “malice, oppression, or fraud.”
The jury awarded K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages, assigning Meta 70% responsibility ($2.1 million) and Google/YouTube 30% ($900,000). Because of the malice finding, the trial now moves to a separate punitive damages phase, where the same jury will decide additional penalties intended to punish the companies for their conduct. Legal experts expect this phase could result in substantially higher total awards given the companies’ multi-trillion-dollar market values.
The case is the first of more than 1,600 similar lawsuits filed nationwide by parents, school districts, and others blaming social media for fueling a youth mental health crisis. Snap and TikTok settled with the plaintiff before trial; terms were not disclosed.
At least half of American teens use YouTube or Instagram daily, according to Pew Research Center data cited in court. The trial focused on platform design features rather than specific content, making it more difficult for the companies to claim immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
The verdict comes amid growing criticism of Big Tech’s handling of child and teen safety. Congress has failed to pass comprehensive federal legislation regulating social media, leaving states to act. At least 20 states enacted laws in 2025 addressing cellphone use in schools and age verification for social media accounts. NetChoice, a trade group backed by Meta and Google, is challenging some of those requirements in court.
A separate federal trial involving multiple states and school districts against the same companies is scheduled for this summer in Oakland, California. Another state-level trial in Los Angeles involving Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat is set for July.
Meta and Google have said they disagree with the verdict and are considering their legal options, including appeals. The companies maintain they offer robust safety tools for families and that the platforms provide significant benefits to users.