Meta appeals social media addiction lawsuit verdict
A jury found Meta's Instagram and Facebook platforms caused negligence harm to a young woman who became addicted to social media as a child, worsening her mental health. Meta appealed the verdict in July 2026, which awarded the woman $3 million in damages and recommended $3 million in punitive damages.
What happened
A jury in Los Angeles found that negligence by both Meta and YouTube was a substantial factor in causing harm to a 20-year-old woman identified in court as KGM or Kaley, who said she became addicted to social media as a child and that it worsened her mental health struggles.
The jury awarded the woman $3 million in damages and recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Lawyers representing Meta filed a notice of appeal on July 7, 2026, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, challenging the jury's determination that the company designed its platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being.
Reported impact
The young woman reported becoming addicted to social media as a child, with the addiction worsening her mental health struggles.
Index analysis
The plaintiffs focused on design features of the platforms to circumvent Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which shields tech companies from legal responsibility for content posted by third parties.
Governance controls
The trial judge, Carolyn B. Kuhl, denied post-trial motions filed by Meta and Google seeking judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial in early June 2026.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.