California Jury Finds Meta and YouTube Liable for Mental Health Harms to Kids

Experts say this ruling provides an opportunity to rethink how families approach social media use.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:28pm

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In a landmark decision, a California jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for mental health harms to children and teens using their platforms. Experts say this ruling underscores the powerful and immersive nature of social media for young users and provides a renewed opportunity to have open conversations with kids about their online experiences and establish healthy social media practices as a family.

Why it matters

This case is the first of its kind, holding major social media companies accountable for the mental health impacts their platforms can have on children. Doctors and advocates hope this ruling will lead to industrywide changes to better protect young users. The decision also highlights the need for parents to proactively engage with their kids about social media use and set boundaries to promote healthy online habits.

The details

The jury's decision centers on social media addiction, an issue that has long concerned doctors and child advocates. Experts say the ruling provides an opportunity for families to rethink their approach to social media, including having open conversations with kids about their online experiences, setting reasonable time limits, and modeling healthy technology habits as parents.

  • The jury reached its decision this week in California.
  • The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, which restricts data collection on children under 13, has been in place for decades.

The players

Meta

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

YouTube

The video-sharing platform owned by Google.

Carol Vidal

A child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Jenny Radesky

The division director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School.

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What they’re saying

“We've had basically seen these platforms sort of go unregulated for many years ... and they didn't really consider, that much, the effects on children.”

— Carol Vidal, child and adolescent psychiatrist

“By listening as a parent, it lets you peek under the hood to understand how your child is thinking about things. It's way easier to solve a tricky problem when you really understand your child's perspective, instead of just trying to force a new limit.”

— Jenny Radesky, division director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow Meta and YouTube to appeal the jury's decision.

The takeaway

This landmark ruling underscores the urgent need for families to have open dialogues with children about their social media use and establish healthy boundaries, while also highlighting the responsibility of tech companies to prioritize the wellbeing of young users on their platforms.