A jury in Los Angeles has ordered technology giants Meta and Google to pay a combined $6 million in damages to a young woman who claimed their social media platforms contributed to her addiction and subsequent mental health challenges.
The verdict followed a closely watched trial in which the plaintiff argued that prolonged exposure to features on Instagram and YouTube led to anxiety, depression and self-harm, particularly during her teenage years.
Brandspur Technology News Desk reports that jurors found both companies negligent in the design and operation of their platforms, concluding that their systems encouraged excessive use without sufficient safeguards for young users.
The court awarded $3 million in compensatory damages to cover the harm suffered by the plaintiff, along with an additional $3 million in punitive damages after determining that the companies acted with malice or reckless disregard for user safety.
Responsibility for the payout was divided between the two firms, with Meta ordered to cover 70 per cent of the damages, amounting to $4.2 million, while Google was held liable for the remaining 30 per cent, or $1.8 million.
During the proceedings, lawyers for the plaintiff highlighted design elements such as algorithm-driven recommendations, autoplay videos and endless scrolling, arguing that these features were intentionally engineered to maximise user engagement and keep young people online for extended periods.
Meta and Google denied that their products were inherently addictive and maintained that a range of external factors, including personal and family circumstances, played a role in the plaintiff’s mental health struggles. Both companies are expected to challenge the ruling through the appeals process.
The case is widely viewed as a bellwether in a broader wave of legal actions against major social media companies, with thousands of similar lawsuits currently pending across the United States. Several other platforms, including Snapchat and TikTok, reportedly reached settlements before this particular case proceeded to trial.
Legal experts say the decision could have far-reaching implications for the technology industry, potentially influencing future court rulings and increasing pressure on social media firms to redesign their platforms with stronger protections for children and teenagers.
