What did jury decide in social media case against Meta and Google?

A Los Angeles jury found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable on Wednesday, March 25, in a landmark youth social media addiction trial.

Here are the details of the jury’s verdict:

Meta, Google owe damages

Meta and Google owe $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. Meta will be liable for 70% of the total and Google for 30%.

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Meta, Google lose US case over social media harm to kids

Meta was negligent

The jury found Meta was negligent in designing or operating Instagram.

Meta’s conduct deemed ‘substantial’ factor in woman’s harm

The jury found that Meta’s negligence was a “substantial factor” in harming the 20-year-old plaintiff. The plaintiff said earlier in the legal proceeding her Instagram use fueled her mental health struggles.

Meta did not adequately warn users

The jury found Meta liable for failing to adequately warn users about the dangers of using Instagram.

Google was negligent

The jury found Google was negligent in designing or operating YouTube.

TEST CASE. Lori Schott, mother of Annalee, speaks to the media accompanied by Julianna Arnold, who founded the nonprofit Parents RISE after her daughter Coco died at the age of 17 in 2022, outside the court after the jury found Meta and Google liable in a key test case accusing Meta and Google’s YouTube of harming children’s mental health through addictive social media platforms, in Los Angeles, California, US, March 25, 2026. Reuters

Google’s conduct deemed ‘substantial’ factor in woman’s harm

The jury found Google’s negligence was a “substantial factor” in harming the 20-year-old plaintiff. The plaintiff has said YouTube’s features contributed to her depression and anxiety.

Google did not adequately warn users

The jury found Google liable for failing to adequately warn users about the dangers of using YouTube. – Rappler.com