LOS ANGELES — A recent jury verdict against major tech companies is raising new questions about how social media platforms are designed, and whether a broader legal reckoning could be ahead.
A Los Angeles jury last week found Meta and Google-owned YouTube negligent in the design of their platforms, awarding $6 million in damages to a woman who said her childhood use of Instagram and YouTube led to addiction, depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.
The case is already being compared by some experts to a “Big Tobacco” moment for Big Tech.
Jonathan Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation,” told CNN the decision signals a turning point.
“We are in a new world — a new era in the fight to protect children from online harms,” Haidt said, adding that thousands of similar cases could follow.
Meta and YouTube plan to appeal. But if the ruling stands, analysts say the companies could be forced to remove features that make their platforms addictive. It could also significantly change how users experience social media.
Still, not everyone expects change.
Max Willens, a principal analyst at eMarketer, told the Los Angeles Times the companies are unlikely to alter their platforms unless required by courts or pressured by advertisers.
Others say the legal pressure could influence how tech companies design future products, especially as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into social platforms.
Andrew Frank, an analyst with Gartner, told the L.A. Times that the increased scrutiny could push companies to build features that better protect users’ mental health.
The verdict also comes as governments around the world consider stricter regulations. Countries like the United Kingdom have already taken steps to limit how children are targeted by social media advertising, and Australia recently passed a law restricting access to major platforms for users under 16.
In the United States, a 2025 survey from the Pew Research Center found that a majority of teens use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. More than 3.5 billion people globally use at least one of Meta’s products.
New York Times reporter Ryan Mac said the case may have succeeded because it focused less on content and more on platform design. He said it specifically targeted the features that can drive addictive behavior.
“It opens the door for a lot of these other cases that follow,” Mac said.
TikTok and Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, were also named in the lawsuit but reached settlements before the case went to trial.
