A Los Angeles jury reached a verdict on Wednesday in a landmark trial that targeted Instagram, owned by Meta, and YouTube, operated by Google, according to statements from the plaintiff's representatives and a Meta spokesperson. The jury is scheduled to read the verdict in open court on Wednesday.
The case centers on a 20-year-old plaintiff who says she became addicted to the apps at a young age because of features designed to capture and hold attention. The legal team for the plaintiff concentrated its arguments on the platforms' design choices rather than the specific content shown on the services. That focus on design was highlighted by plaintiffs as a factor that could make it more difficult for the defendant companies to avoid liability.
Two other major social platforms, Snap and TikTok, were named as defendants in the Los Angeles proceeding. Both companies reached settlements with the plaintiff before the trial began; the terms of those agreements have not been disclosed.
Large technology firms in the United States have faced increasing criticism over the last decade regarding child and teen safety on their platforms. The public debate has moved from broader policy discussions into courtrooms and state capitols, while the U.S. Congress has not enacted comprehensive federal legislation regulating social media.
At the state level, lawmakers have been active. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 20 states enacted laws last year addressing social media use and children. The measures vary in scope and include proposals to regulate cellphone use in schools and to require age verification from users seeking to open social media accounts.
NetChoice, a trade association supported by technology companies including Meta and Google, is challenging in court certain age verification requirements enacted by states. The association is seeking to invalidate those requirements through litigation.
Other legal actions tied to social media addiction are moving forward. A case filed by several states and school districts against technology companies is expected to go to trial this summer in federal court in Oakland, California. Additionally, another state trial is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in July, according to Matthew Bergman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs in these matters. That July proceeding is slated to involve Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.
In a separate development, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday concluded that Meta violated state law in a lawsuit brought by the state's attorney general. The attorney general had accused Meta of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and of enabling child sexual exploitation on those platforms.
The Los Angeles verdict will be closely watched by families, school systems and state officials pursuing related claims, as well as by the companies named in the litigation. How courts navigate questions about platform design and legal responsibility for user behavior could affect a broad set of pending and prospective cases.