Jury Finds Meta and YouTube Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case

Plaintiff awarded $6 million in damages over mental health struggles linked to tech platforms

Mar. 26, 2026 at 8:30pm

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A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Meta and YouTube were negligent in how they designed and operated their platforms, siding with a 20-year-old plaintiff who claimed their features contributed to her depression, anxiety, and body image issues stemming from compulsive social media use during her childhood. The jury awarded the plaintiff $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta responsible for 70% and YouTube 30%, plus an additional $3 million in punitive damages.

Why it matters

This landmark case marks a pivotal moment in a wave of lawsuits accusing social media companies of creating features that encourage compulsive use among young people. The verdict could influence the outcomes of thousands of similar cases brought by families and school districts nationwide, suggesting the tech sector could face increased scrutiny and significant financial consequences.

The details

The jury determined that Meta and Google's YouTube contributed to the plaintiff's mental health struggles, with the court awarding her $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Meta would pay $4.2 million, and YouTube $1.8 million. The plaintiff, identified as K.G.M. or Kaley, testified that she began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, eventually spending nearly all her time on social media, which she said contributed to depression, anxiety, and body image issues.

  • The trial lasted more than a month, with testimony from executives like Mark Zuckerberg.
  • The jury deliberated for nearly 44 hours across nine days before reaching the verdict.

The players

K.G.M. (Kaley)

A 20-year-old plaintiff who claimed Meta and YouTube's platform features contributed to her depression, anxiety, and body image issues stemming from compulsive social media use during her childhood.

Meta

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, found negligent in the case and ordered to pay $4.2 million in damages.

YouTube

The video-sharing platform owned by Google, also found negligent and ordered to pay $1.8 million in damages.

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What they’re saying

“Kaley testified that she began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, eventually spending nearly all her time on social media. She said the constant engagement contributed to depression, anxiety, and body image issues, adding that it 'really affected my self-worth.' She also described feeling compelled to stay online and fearing she would miss out if she logged off.”

— Kaley

“Meta argued that her struggles predated social media use and noted that 'not one of her therapists identified social media as the cause.'”

— Meta

“YouTube's defense also stressed limited evidence of addiction to its platform specifically.”

— YouTube

What’s next

The verdict is expected to influence the outcomes of thousands of similar cases brought by families and school districts nationwide against social media companies.

The takeaway

This landmark case represents a pivotal moment in the growing wave of lawsuits accusing social media companies of designing features that encourage compulsive use among young people, potentially leading to increased scrutiny and significant financial consequences for the tech sector.