This time, it’s not the content distributed on Meta (Facebook, Instagram) that is at issue, but the design of these internet platforms with the goal of creating dependence. Meta and Google have been found guilty of causing a young user to become addicted to social networks.
Kaley was 6 years old when she first connected to YouTube. At 9, she signed up for Instagram and quickly became addicted, an addiction that, she says, eventually made her anxious, depressed, and suicidal.
The Californian is 20 years old today. Her lawyers did not blame the published content, as Meta and Google are not responsible under American law. Rather, it is the platforms themselves that pose a problem with their algorithms and continuous flow of information.
“This is a turning point and it will have consequences. The tools and features of your platform can be enough to make you accountable. This is a strong message to these companies,” declared Mark Lanier, one of Kaley’s lawyers.
Google and Meta will have to pay a total of 6 million dollars in damages and interests, which is nothing compared to their huge revenues, as warned by one of the family members present at the court on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. “It’s a victory and we feel reassured, but legislation must accompany this court decision, otherwise these companies will think it’s just the price to pay for doing business and they will start over.”
A Meta spokesperson confirmed that the group would appeal. “We disagree with this verdict. Teen mental health is complex and cannot be associated with a single application.”
Thousands of other lawsuits initiated by parents, schools, and states are awaiting the tech industry in the years to come.
