US jury finds Meta, Alphabet liable in landmark social media addiction case

A California jury found Meta and Alphabet liable in a landmark social media addiction case and awarded the plaintiff $3 million in damages. The case centers on allegations that the companies' platforms—Facebook/Instagram and YouTube—deliberately designed addictive features that harmed the user's mental health and well-being. This marks one of the first successful legal judgments against major tech giants over social media addiction, potentially exposing them to broader litigation from other users claiming similar harms. The verdict comes amid mounting scrutiny of tech platforms' engagement algorithms and their documented effects on adolescent mental health, a concern that has prompted regulatory investigations and legislative proposals nationwide. Both companies are likely to appeal, but the judgment signals that juries may hold social media platforms accountable for addiction-related damages.