US jury awards $6 million in damages, flags mental health risks like anxiety and body dysmorphia; global pressure mounts for stricter regulation of social media platforms.
By NIRENDRA DEV
New Delhi, March 29, 2026 — In the shadow of the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran, another battle—quieter but deeply consequential—is unfolding in courtrooms. This one targets Big Tech.
A jury in Los Angeles has awarded damages of $6 million to a young plaintiff, holding Meta liable for 70% and YouTube for the remaining share. The verdict marks a significant legal moment, with jurors concluding that the platforms were deliberately designed to be addictive and failed to adequately warn users of the risks.
The ruling is being seen as a watershed in holding social media companies accountable for harm caused to young users.
Meta, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok are currently facing thousands of lawsuits across the United States. At the heart of these cases lies a critical question: were these platforms engineered to maximise user engagement at the cost of mental health?
In this case, jurors found both negligence and a lack of safety warnings. The plaintiff, identified as Kaley, began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram by nine. Over time, she developed compulsive usage patterns, leading to depression and self-harm.
“I can’t, it’s too hard to be without it,” she told the court.
The verdict has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. It is being compared to a “Big Tobacco moment” for the tech industry—where long-denied harms are now being legally acknowledged.
In a separate but equally significant development, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $375 million in a case related to child exploitation. The lawsuit, filed by the state attorney general’s office in December 2023, accused the company of misleading users about platform safety.
The case drew heavily on a two-year investigation by The Guardian, which revealed how Facebook and Instagram had allegedly become marketplaces facilitating child sexual exploitation.
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez called the verdict a “historic victory,” accusing Meta of prioritising profits over child safety and ignoring internal warnings.
Together, these rulings signal a turning point. The era of Big Tech’s perceived invincibility appears to be under challenge.
Globally, governments are beginning to respond. Indonesia is moving to restrict access for children under 16, following similar regulatory steps by Australia. Brazil has enacted laws targeting compulsive platform use, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for stronger protections for children online.
Even public figures have weighed in. Prince Harry described the verdict as a moment where “truth has been heard and precedent has been set.”
For families and campaigners, the developments offer cautious optimism. Esther Ghey, mother of British teenager Brianna Ghey, believes social media addiction played a role in her daughter’s mental health struggles.
Brianna, who was killed in 2023, had reportedly experienced isolation, anxiety and body dysmorphia—issues increasingly being linked to excessive social media use among young users.
Campaigners now hope these rulings will push governments and tech companies toward meaningful reform.
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