The young woman filed a lawsuit, claiming that her addiction developed due to the design features of YouTube and Instagram, which are addictive. The jury agreed that the companies did not warn users about the potential harm, which could set an important precedent for future lawsuits and a review of the safety policies of such platforms, according to Bloomberg. However, both companies intend to contest the court's decision.
The court hearings focused on design rather than content. The plaintiff's attorneys convinced the jury that the companies intentionally created user-friendly interfaces that could lead to addiction, especially among children.
On the other hand, Meta's defenders argued that the plaintiff's mental health issues were caused by family circumstances, not social media addiction. The platforms TikTok and Snapchat were also involved in the case, but they reached a settlement before the trial began, Bloomberg reports.
Major tech firms have long been under public scrutiny, as their platforms can contribute to the development of addiction among minors and the emergence of psychological difficulties. Currently, there is no unified law regulating social media in the U.S., and most restrictions are set at the state level.
As of 2025, about 20 U.S. states have already implemented legislation regulating social media use among minors. Additional precedent-setting decisions on similar lawsuits are expected to be made by the end of 2026. Recently, according to Bloomberg, a jury in New Mexico found Meta guilty of creating a threat to children.
In the past year, several countries, including Australia, France, Spain, Portugal, and Malaysia, have introduced bans or strict restrictions on social media use by minors. Similar bills are also being discussed in the parliaments of Germany, Greece, Denmark, Norway, and Slovenia.
The record that Google and Meta will pay an American $6 million for social media addiction first appeared on K-News.
