Meta, YouTube Told to Pay $6-M in Damages Over “Addictive” Design

A state court in Los Angeles awarded $6 million in damages—half of it punitive—against Meta Platforms and YouTube parent Alphabet to a woman who said the apps’ addictive design contributed to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.

Google argued the case “misunderstands YouTube,” which it maintains is not a social media platform. (Photo: Rego Korosi Flick) 

The verdict could set a precedent, Adam Levine reported for Barron’s Daily.

Both Meta and YouTube disagreed with the jury’s decision and said they will appeal. “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” a Meta spokesperson said.

Google argued the case “misunderstands YouTube,” which it maintains is not a social media platform.

The verdict found Meta 70% responsible. The jury also rejected the companies’ Section 230 defense, a law that generally shields platforms from liability for third-party content.

The now 20-year-old plaintiff argued that features such as “infinite scroll” are designed to keep users engaged for prolonged periods.

In a Northern California federal district court, another trial consolidates more than 2,000 similar cases into a single proceeding, with Meta named as the first defendant alongside platforms such as YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok.

Hundreds of school districts and most US state attorneys general have also filed lawsuits.

Separately, a New Mexico jury ruled that Meta failed to protect young users from online dangers—including sexually explicit content, solicitation, and human trafficking—and ordered the company to pay a $375 million penalty. Meta said it will appeal that ruling as well.