Jury Finds YouTube, Meta Liable for Negligence in Teen Addiction Case
A Los Angeles jury has ruled that YouTube and Meta are liable for negligence in a case involving a young woman who said she became addicted to their platforms from an early age.
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The jury found that the design and operation of the platforms contributed to her mental health struggles, awarding $3 million in compensatory damages. Meta was assigned 70 percent of the liability.
Jurors also determined that both companies could face additional punitive damages, with the final amount yet to be decided.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleged that platforms including Instagram created addictive environments that negatively impacted young users. According to court proceedings, the plaintiff began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram at nine.
A therapist who treated the plaintiff testified that her prolonged social media use contributed to mental health challenges, including social anxiety and body image concerns.
Both companies have rejected the ruling. Meta argued that teenage mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single platform, while YouTube maintained that its service is not designed to be addictive.
Legal experts say appeals are expected, as the case adds to growing global scrutiny over the impact of social media platforms on young users’ wellbeing.
Jury Finds YouTube, Meta Liable for Negligence in Teen Addiction Case