NEW: Verdict Reached In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury reached a verdict Tuesday in a landmark civil lawsuit accusing Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube of designing their social media platforms in ways that caused addiction and mental health harm to a minor user. The case, brought by a now 20-year-old woman identified in court documents as K.G.M., is the first of its kind to proceed to trial among thousands of similar lawsuits filed nationwide by individuals, school districts, and state attorneys general against major social media companies, including Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap.

The plaintiff alleged that features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic content recommendations, push notifications, and other engagement-maximizing tools on Instagram (owned by Meta) and YouTube were intentionally engineered to foster compulsive use among young users. She claimed these designs contributed substantially to her experiences of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts during her preteen and teenage years.

The trial, which began in early February 2026 and lasted approximately seven weeks under Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl, included testimony from addiction experts, platform engineers, and executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Internal company documents shown to jurors addressed strategies for attracting younger audiences.

After more than 40 hours of deliberations over nine days, the jury found both Meta and YouTube liable on claims of negligence in the design and operation of their platforms. Jurors determined that the platforms were a “substantial factor” in causing the plaintiff’s harm.

The companies were ordered to pay a total of $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta assigned 70 percent responsibility ($2.1 million) and YouTube 30 percent ($900,000). The jury is now scheduled to begin a separate phase to consider whether punitive damages should be awarded based on findings of malice or fraud.

Snap and TikTok settled with the plaintiff prior to trial.

“Today’s verdict is a referendum — from a jury, to an entire industry — that accountability has arrived,” the plaintiff’s lead counsel stated following the announcement. A spokesperson for Meta responded by stating that the company disagrees with the verdict and is exploring options, while a Google spokesman confirmed that the company plans to appeal.

Both companies are expected to pursue post-trial motions, such as a request for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial, before filing a formal appeal. In California civil procedure, a notice of appeal must generally be filed within 60 days after entry of judgment. The appellate process would begin in the California Court of Appeal, where briefing, oral argument, and a written decision typically span 12 to 24 months. Further review by the California Supreme Court or, in cases raising federal constitutional questions (such as First Amendment issues), the U.S. Supreme Court could extend the timeline by an additional year or more.

Legal analysts have noted that potential precedents set by the verdict value may influence settlement negotiations or outcomes in parallel cases, though appeals could delay any final financial or operational impact.

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