Meta, Google Found Liable in Social Media Addiction Trial, Ordered to Pay Millions

A Los Angeles jury has ordered Meta and Google to pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman, finding that her use of the companies' social media platforms contributed to serious mental health struggles tied to their design.



The decision marks the first social media addiction case of its kind to go to trial. After nine days of deliberation, jurors voted 10-2 to hold both companies liable, concluding they were negligent in how their platforms are designed and operated and failed to warn about risks to minors.


The plaintiff, Kaley G.M., was awarded $4.2 million from Meta and $1.8 million from Google. Half of each award will compensate her for losses, including therapy costs, while the remainder is punitive damages meant to deter similar conduct.

During the monthlong trial, the case centered on how the platforms were built, not the content they carry. That distinction allowed the plaintiff's legal team to sidestep legal protections that typically shield companies from liability over user-generated content. Lawyers pointed to features like push notifications, infinite scroll, autoplay videos, and beauty filters, arguing they were designed to trigger dopamine responses and keep younger users engaged for as long as possible.

Kaley testified that she began watching YouTube at six years old and joined Instagram at nine. Her attorneys blamed the platforms for her anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia, describing the applications as "traps" designed to maximize engagement and profit.

Both companies strongly denied the allegations. Meta said it is evaluating its legal options, while Google confirmed it intends to file an appeal. Defense attorneys pointed to outside factors such as family issues, school difficulties, and bullying as the primary causes of the plaintiff's distress. They also referenced medical records indicating she used the platforms positively for creative expression and relaxation.


The trial outcome highlights growing legal risk for the software industry. Meta and Google are currently facing thousands of similar claims from adolescents and families, alongside coordinated consumer protection lawsuits from roughly three dozen state attorneys general and over 1,000 public school districts.

Snap and TikTok were initially named as defendants in this specific lawsuit but reached confidential settlements before the trial began. With two more bellwether trials scheduled in California state court later this year, further defeats for the platform operators could spur broader settlement negotiations over how mobile applications are designed and monetized.