By Andrew Kariuki
A U.S. jury has ordered tech giants Meta Platforms and Google to pay a combined $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman in a landmark case linking social media use to mental health harm.
The plaintiff, identified in court as “Kaley,” sued multiple platforms in 2023, including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snap, alleging that their products were deliberately designed to be addictive and contributed significantly to her mental health struggles.
The Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable, ruling that the companies were negligent in the design of Instagram and YouTube and failed to provide adequate warnings about potential harm to young users.
Kaley argued that her early exposure to the platforms led to compulsive use, which worsened her depression and contributed to psychological conditions including social phobia and body dysmorphic disorder.
During the trial, licensed therapist Victoria Burke testified that she diagnosed Kaley with the conditions at age 13 and concluded that her social media use was a “contributing factor” to her deteriorating mental health.
The court awarded $3 million in compensatory damages, along with an additional $3 million in punitive damages, bringing the total award to $6 million.
Under the ruling, Meta will bear 70% of the liability, amounting to $2.1 million, while Google will pay the remaining 30% , equivalent to $900,000.
Reacting to the verdict, Meta said it would challenge the decision.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” the company said in a statement, adding that it remains committed to protecting young users online.
Google also rejected the findings, stating that the case mischaracterised YouTube.
“This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site,” a company spokesperson said.
Legal experts say the case is significant as it marks one of the first successful lawsuits holding social media companies accountable for alleged addictive design and its impact on mental health.
The ruling is expected to set a precedent, with dozens of similar cases currently pending across the United States, potentially reshaping how courts assess liability in the digital age.
