I remember when Facebook first became a thing, finding it mildly entertaining; you could get in touch with old friends, see how your ex-significant other looks now, and post pictures of your picnic or whatever. I soon tired of it, though, because I didn’t really care what some guy from high school, whom I’d long forgotten about, was having for dinner.
That being said, since I became a writer, I have found X to be indispensable, and while I don’t consider myself addicted to it, please do not attempt to take it away from me.
But some people, especially the young, absolutely do get addicted to social media and can’t put down the phone even when they’re neglecting their own well-being. An LA jury just found that the tech companies behind it are responsible and need to pay:
A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and Google liable in a closely watched trial accusing social media platforms of designing their products to get young users addicted, awarding the plaintiff $3 million in damages.
Meta was ordered to pay 70% of the awarded damages, while Google is responsible for the rest. The verdict came after nine days, roughly 43 hours, of deliberations.
BREAKING: A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and Google (YouTube) liable in a high-profile social media addiction lawsuit, awarding the plaintiff $3 million in damages. “It’s huge as far as all of the other plaintiffs. This is now bl00d in the water... These companies are now… pic.twitter.com/niLxPDTu97
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 25, 2026
“These companies are now vulnerable.”
It’s been an expensive two days for Meta. RedState’s Ben Smith reported Tuesday on how a New Mexico jury cost the tech giant big bucks for endangering children:
A New Mexico jury just handed Meta a $375 million verdict after finding the company misled users about the safety of its platforms and exposed children to harm. The case, brought by the state’s Department of Justice, is one of the first successful state trials against a major tech company over child safety.
Prosecutors targeted how Meta built its platforms and what it told the public about their safety, not just the content users posted.
Meta Faces $375 Million Verdict After Jury Finds It Misled Public on Child Risks
The Los Angeles case was brought by a young woman who said her addiction caused emotional problems, and she accused the tech firms of purposely making their apps more addictive:
The jury voted to award $3 million in damages to the lead plaintiff in the case, a woman named Kaley — identified in court filings by her initials "KGM" — who alleged that using YouTube and Instagram from a young age led to addictive use of the platforms and contributed to her mental health problems, including depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.
The decision caps a weeks-long trial that put Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri on the stand to defend their products in a case that drew comparisons to the tobacco industry lawsuits in the 1990s. Jurors deliberated in a Los Angeles courtroom for nine days for a total of more than 40 hours, at one point telling the judge that they were struggling to reach a consensus on one of the defendants.
One of the central issues was whether the companies made real efforts to set age limits, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitting during testimony that there are "a meaningful number of people who lie about their age to use our services."
The case could set a troubling precedent for tech companies, as it has the potential to open up a floodgate of similar lawsuits. It also raises questions about personal responsibility vs. corporate obligations. Who’s at fault when someone can’t control their impulses?
In this case, the jury decided it was the corporations.
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