Google and Meta denied new trial in youth addiction lawsuit
Google and Meta denied new trial in youth addiction lawsuit
Updated at: June 16, 2026 at 01:15 PM
In a significant legal development, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied a request from Meta and Google for a new trial regarding youth social media addiction.
Judge Carolyn Kuhl upheld a jury verdict that found both companies negligent in their platform design, awarding the plaintiff $6 million in damages.
The case centered on features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and addictive algorithms, which the plaintiff claimed led to severe mental health struggles during her childhood, such as anxiety and depression.
Importantly, the court ruled that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act—which typically protects platforms from liability regarding user-generated content—does not shield them from claims regarding harmful product design choices.
This ruling is widely viewed as a bellwether case, setting a potential precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits currently moving through the California court system.
While Meta and Google intend to appeal, arguing that this approach bypasses established legal protections for digital platforms, the outcome remains a major win for advocates of stricter tech regulation.
