Marcus SchulerA Los Angeles jury awarded $3 million against Meta and YouTube in the first social media addiction trial, finding platform design features were a "substantial factor" in causing harm to a young user. Jury also found evidence of malice, setting up punitive damages. With 100,000+ similar claims pending and federal trials coming, this verdict could reshape platform liability beyond content moderation protections.
Meta, YouTube Lose First Social Media Addiction Trial
A jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in the first social media addiction trial, awarding $3 million and finding both companies acted with malice. The verdict establishes that platform design can be a defective product. Punitive damages are next, with 100,000 arbitration demands in the pipeline.