Landmark Ruling Finds Meta and YouTube Negligent in Harming Teen's Mental Health

Jury awards $6 million in damages, opening floodgates for thousands of similar lawsuits against social media giants.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:05am

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In a landmark ruling, a Los Angeles jury found that social media platforms Meta and YouTube were negligent in designing features that harmed a 20-year-old user's mental health, including body dysmorphia and depression. The jury awarded the plaintiff, Kaley G.M., $6 million in damages, paving the way for thousands of similar lawsuits against tech companies. The ruling comes on the heels of another verdict finding Meta liable for $375 million in damages over enabling predators to exploit children on its platform.

Why it matters

This verdict represents a significant shift in how the legal system views the responsibility of social media companies for the mental health impacts of their platform designs. It challenges the industry's long-held premise that user attention is a neutral product to be harvested, and that the companies bear no responsibility for the human cost of their engineering choices. The ruling could have far-reaching implications, opening the floodgates for thousands of similar lawsuits against tech giants.

The details

The seven-week trial focused on features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and beauty filters, which the plaintiff's lawyers argued were intentionally designed to be addictive and harmful, particularly for young users. Internal communications and testimony revealed that some Meta and YouTube employees had raised concerns about the negative impacts of these features, but the companies prioritized engagement and growth over user wellbeing. The jury found Meta 70% responsible and YouTube 30% responsible for the plaintiff's harms.

  • The lawsuit was filed in 2023, more than two years after the plaintiff, Kaley G.M., began experiencing mental health issues she attributed to her use of social media platforms.
  • The trial kicked off in February 2026 and lasted seven weeks.
  • The jury reached its verdict on March 24, 2026.

The players

Kaley G.M.

A 20-year-old plaintiff who sued Meta and YouTube, alleging that using their platforms led to her developing mental health issues such as body dysmorphia and depression.

Meta

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, found 70% responsible for the plaintiff's harms.

YouTube

The video-sharing platform, found 30% responsible for the plaintiff's harms.

Mark Lanier

The lead attorney representing the plaintiff, Kaley G.M.

Arturo Béjar

A former Facebook Engineering Director who testified about internal concerns regarding the addictive nature of the platform's features.

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What they’re saying

“This damning verdict is a landmark moment in recognizing the harm caused by tech giants in the manipulative designs of their social media platforms.”

— Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, Amnesty International

“This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”

— Google Spokesperson

What’s next

Meta and Google have stated they disagree with the verdict and intend to appeal. The outcome of the appeal could have significant implications for the thousands of similar lawsuits now making their way through U.S. courts.

The takeaway

This landmark ruling challenges the tech industry's long-held position that it bears no responsibility for the mental health impacts of its platform designs. It could mark a turning point in how the legal system views the duty of care social media companies owe to their users, particularly vulnerable young people.