Jurors Deliberate Meta's Social Media Addiction Trial

Jurors in the Meta trial are deliberating after wading through challenging evidence related to social media's risks to children. These risks are at the center of the trial, which could have significant implications for the tech giant.

The landmark META social media addiction trial has reached a critical juncture as jurors began deliberations in Los Angeles. The case centers on allegations that Meta and Alphabet's YouTube designed their platforms to be addictive, contributing to the mental health struggles of a 20-year-old plaintiff who claims harm from Instagram use as a child. Jurors have been presented with a daunting array of evidence over several weeks of testimony.

On their sixth day of deliberation, the jury sent questions to Judge Carolyn Kuhl that suggest the panel may have moved past the question of liability and is now weighing damages. Because this is a civil trial, a unanimous verdict is not required — only nine of the 12 jurors must agree on each count. A separate trial in New Mexico, built on undercover investigations where agents posed as children, is also nearing closing arguments.

The outcome could set a precedent for how tech companies are held accountable for platform design choices affecting minors. A finding of liability could expose META to billions in potential damages across hundreds of pending cases, while also accelerating legislative efforts to regulate social media's impact on children.