Social Media Trial: Jury Reaches Verdict in Landmark Los Angeles Addiction Case
LOS ANGELES — A verdict has been reached in the social media trial accusing major platforms of profiting from products alleged to be dangerously addictive to children. An attorney for the plaintiff said in an email, “We have been notified that the jury has reached a verdict, ” adding, “It will be read this morning. ” The decision caps deliberations in a Los Angeles County courtroom after a case that began last month and drew testimony that included tech CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Verdict reached after lengthy deliberations in Los Angeles courtroom
The civil case is the first in a consolidated group of lawsuits filed against one company and others by more than 1, 600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and more than 250 school districts. The plaintiff, identified in court by her initials K. G. M., is now 20 and was a minor during the incidents described in her lawsuit.
Deliberations stretched to nearly 44 hours over nine days. During that period, jurors told Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl they were having trouble reaching consensus on one defendant. The verdict is expected to be read this morning (ET), as communicated by the plaintiff’s attorney.
If the verdict favors K. G. M., the companies could face damages that would be determined by a jury.
Immediate reactions: Plaintiff’s team presses accountability; defendants push back
K. G. M. ’s lead attorney said he hopes the proceedings lead to transparency and accountability “so that the public can see that these companies have been orchestrating an addiction crisis in our country and, actually, the world. ”
Defense attorneys for Meta and Google’s YouTube have disputed the allegations. They argued their platforms, including Meta’s Instagram, are not purposefully harmful and addictive.
A spokesperson for Meta said K. G. M. ’s “profound challenges” were not caused by social media and pointed to “significant emotional and physical abuse” she experienced when she was younger.
In closing argument, an attorney for YouTube said there was not a single mention of addiction to that platform in K. G. M. ’s medical records.
What the plaintiff told the court about her experience
On the stand, K. G. M. testified that her nearly nonstop use of social media caused or contributed to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. “It really affected my self-worth, ” she said last month.
She also described feeling pulled to be constantly on the platforms, and said she feared missing out if she wasn’t. Those statements formed a central part of the plaintiff’s case in the social media trial, which seeks to hold platforms accountable for alleged addiction and mental health harms.
Quick context: A first-of-its-kind addiction case, alongside other major litigation
K. G. M. ’s lawsuit is described as the first civil action seeking to hold platforms accountable for allegedly causing addiction and mental health problems. Social media companies have historically been shielded by Section 230, a provision added to the Communications Act of 1934 that says internet companies aren’t liable for the content users post.
The verdict also comes after a separate New Mexico case in which jurors held Meta liable for failing to protect children from online predators and sexual exploitation on Facebook and Instagram, ordering $375 million in civil penalties. Meta has stated it disagrees with that verdict and plans to appeal.
What’s next as the court prepares to read the decision
The immediate next step is the public reading of the verdict this morning (ET), as indicated by the plaintiff’s attorney. After that, the case could move into a damages phase if the jury’s decision favors the plaintiff.
Elsewhere in the litigation landscape, TikTok and Snap—named as defendants in K. G. M. ’s lawsuit—reached settlements ahead of trial, while remaining defendants in similar lawsuits expected to go to trial this year. For now, all eyes are on the courtroom as this social media trial reaches its decisive moment.
