Meta and YouTube hit with social media addiction verdict, plan appeals

A Los Angeles jury delivered a landmark social media addiction verdict involving Meta and YouTube, finding the platforms designed to keep younger users engaged without adequately accounting for youth well-being. The plaintiff, K.G.M., said her addiction began in childhood and her mental health worsened as exposure increased. Damages were set at $3 million, with jurors recommending an additional $3 million in punitive damages. The article reports a split where 70% of the penalty would be paid by Meta and 30% by Google’s YouTube. Meta and YouTube’s parent company say they will appeal. Meta argued that teen mental health impacts are profoundly complex and cannot be blamed on a single app. Google said YouTube is fundamentally a streaming platform, not a social media site. The ruling is Meta’s second major adverse outcome after a New Mexico case tied to consumer protection law. It also lands as regulators tighten youth-focused online rules, including Australia’s restrictions for under-16 users and UK pilots that could introduce bans, digital curfews, and time limits. For crypto traders, this is not a direct token catalyst, but it can shift broader tech-sector risk sentiment around online safety and advertising/engagement models—especially if more lawsuits follow this social media addiction verdict.