Jury Rules Meta, YouTube Negligent in Landmark Child Addiction Trial

A jury has found Meta and YouTube legally responsible for harming a child’s mental health, setting up a major shift in how social media companies are held accountable.

The ruling comes after a closely watched trial where a young woman argued the platforms were designed to keep kids hooked, not safe.

According to NBC Los Angeles and CBS News, jurors concluded the companies were negligent and that their design choices played a “substantial factor” in her depression and psychological struggles.

She testified she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at 9, eventually spending most of her day on the apps.

The jury awarded $3 million in damages, but the bigger impact may be what comes next.

Both companies denied responsibility, arguing other personal factors contributed to her condition.

The case is being treated as a test run for thousands of similar lawsuits now moving through courts.

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