Meta and YouTube have lost a landmark lawsuit filed by a 20-year-old user, with a US jury ruling the platforms contributed to addiction, anxiety and depression.
The decision, delivered in Los Angeles, could open the door to hundreds of similar claims, marking one of the strongest legal challenges yet to the business models of major social media companies.
Jurors found the platforms acted negligently and failed to adequately warn users about the psychological risks linked to prolonged use. The plaintiff was awarded $3 million in damages, with 70% of the compensation to be paid by Meta.
Google said it will appeal the ruling, arguing that YouTube should not be classified as a social network. Meta is also reviewing its legal options following the verdict.
The case focused heavily on design features such as infinite scrolling, which the plaintiff argued were deliberately engineered to maximize user engagement and create dependency.
She told the court that prolonged use of platforms like Instagram and YouTube from a young age contributed to her mental health struggles, including anxiety and depression.
The lawsuit targeted YouTube and Instagram, owned by Meta, while rivals Snapchat and TikTok avoided trial through settlements.
Mark Zuckerberg testified during the proceedings. The ruling follows a previous case in New Mexico, where a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million over failures to protect younger users, a decision the company is also appealing.