Meta and YouTube found liable in social media addiction trial

The case centered on the experiences of Kaley G.M., who testified alongside her therapist about suffering from body dysmorphia and compulsive platform usage. Jurors determined that the companies' negligence served as a substantial factor in her mental health decline. Under the current ruling, Meta bears 70 percent of the financial liability, with Google responsible for the remainder. While the jury confirmed that punitive damages are warranted, the specific amount remains subject to further deliberation.

Representatives for both tech giants immediately signaled their intent to challenge the decision. Meta spokesperson Francis Brennan argued that teen mental health is too complex to be reduced to the influence of a single application, while Google spokesperson José Castañeda similarly rejected the findings. Despite a split jury—with ten members siding with the plaintiff and two in favor of the defense—the non-unanimous verdict stands as a major challenge to the platforms' existing safety records.