Meta has filed a request asking a United States court to overturn a jury verdict that found the company partly responsible for a young woman’s depression and social media addiction, in a case that could have wide-reaching implications for the tech industry.
The motion follows a March ruling in which a jury concluded that Meta and Google, through its YouTube platform, were negligent in the way they designed their services and failed to adequately warn users about potential risks. The jury awarded $6 million (€5.1 million) in damages to the plaintiff, a 20-year-old identified in court documents as KGM.
KGM told the court she had spent up to 16 hours a day on social media platforms during periods of intense usage, a pattern she said worsened her mental health. The case focused on whether platform design features contributed to compulsive use and psychological harm.
Meta is now asking the judge either to dismiss the verdict entirely or grant a new trial. In its legal filing, the company argues it is protected under Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability related to content posted by users.
The trial examined whether harm stemmed from user-generated content or from platform design elements such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, which critics argue encourage prolonged engagement.
The case has been described as a “bellwether” proceeding, meaning its outcome could influence thousands of similar lawsuits currently being considered in the United States.
During proceedings, Meta disputed the claims linking its platform directly to KGM’s mental health condition. The company argued that her difficulties were primarily connected to challenges in her personal life rather than social media use. Lawyers for YouTube advanced a similar position, characterising the platform more as a video service akin to television than a social networking site. They also noted that KGM’s usage of YouTube reportedly declined as she got older.
Both companies highlighted safety tools and user controls available on their platforms, stating that users are able to manage screen time and customise their experience.
The verdict has intensified debate over the responsibilities of social media companies in relation to user wellbeing, particularly among younger users who may be more vulnerable to compulsive engagement patterns.
Meta and YouTube have not publicly commented further on the latest court filings. The judge’s decision on whether to uphold the verdict or order a retrial is expected to play a significant role in shaping how future technology-related liability cases are handled in US courts.
