Meta and Google Found Liable in Social Media Addiction Case, Ordered to Pay $3 Million
A California jury has found Meta and Google liable for a woman's mental health issues linked to social media addiction, awarding her $3 million in damages.
A California jury has found Meta and Google liable for the mental health issues of a woman who began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, awarding her $3 million in damages. The plaintiff, now 20, alleged that the platforms' addictive designs contributed to her depression and anxiety. The jury determined that Meta and Google acted with malice, opening the door for potential punitive damages. This landmark verdict is the first to hold social media companies accountable for their role in youth mental health crises and may influence approximately 2,000 similar pending lawsuits. Meta has expressed disagreement with the verdict and is evaluating legal options, while Google has yet to respond.