A Los Angeles jury has delivered what legal experts are calling a landmark ruling against Meta and Google, finding both companies legally responsible for designing their platforms to be addictive and harmful to young users. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old known as KGM, was awarded six million dollars in damages after a six-week trial. Meta took 70 percent of the liability, Google the remaining 30.
KGM began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine. At her peak, she was spending up to 16 hours a day on social media. She testified that the experience led to anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts — with symptoms first diagnosed at age ten.
Central to the trial was the argument that specific platform features — including autoplay video, infinite scrolling, and algorithmic recommendations — were not accidental byproducts of design but intentional tools built to maximize time spent on the apps. Internal documents, including a Meta study called 'Project Myst,' suggested executives knew about these harmful effects on younger users. Both companies deny wrongdoing and plan to appeal.
Together, the decisions are expected to accelerate an estimated 1,600 pending lawsuits, including roughly 350 cases brought by families and 250 filed by school districts. Analysts say the ruling may also erode social media companies' long-held reliance on Section 230 legal protections. Internationally, Australia has already restricted children's access to social media, and the UK is piloting a ban for under-16s.
