Landmark case finds Meta and Google liable for addicting app design

A Los Angeles County jury on Wednesday found Meta and Google liable for harming a young woman who used their social media platforms.

The landmark decision—which could have an impact on whether future cases can be brought against tech companies—marks a win for the case’s plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman identified only as KGM, who jurors said is entitled to $3 million in damages from Meta and Google.

The woman filed the suit against Instagram’s parent company Meta and YouTube owner Google in 2023, alleging the platforms, and the design of their apps, deliberately addict and harm children. The jury found those claims to have merit, and that the companies failed to sufficiently warn users about the dangers of their products.

“We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal,” a Google spokesperson told Fast Company. “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”

“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal,” a spokesperson for Meta told Fast Company. “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”

The jury ordered the companies to pay $3 million in compensatory damages, holding Meta accountable for 70%, or $2.1 million, and Google for the remaining 30%. While Snap and TikTok were originally named in the lawsuit, those companies already settled for undisclosed sums.

As Fast Company previously reported, KGM alleged that using social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated her depression and suicidal thoughts.

In a separate lawsuit on Wednesday, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties for misleading the public, exposing children to sexual exploitation, and fostering adverse mental health. The company was found guilty of 75,000 violations, each of which holds a maximum penalty of $5,000.

This story has been updated with an expanded statement from Meta.