#Addiction |
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#Addiction
Plus: Meta and Google found liable, what the verdict means, an OnlyFans-style campaign website, and more...
Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 3.26.2026 9:34 AM
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It begins: anyone who's ever spent too much time on social media—or simply suffered any setbacks while simultaneously having social media accounts—can claim "addiction" and reasonably expect a big payout. A landmark verdict in California has paved the way for that, and worse.
After nearly two months of trial, a jury on Wednesday decided that Meta and Google are liable—to the tune of $6 million—for the psychological troubles plaguing now 20-year-old Kaley G.M.
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In a civil suit, Kaley claimed that addiction to YouTube and other online platforms when she was a minor led to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. She originally sued four tech companies—Google, Meta, TikTok, and Snap—but the latter two settled before trial.
Her case is part of a consolidated case representing nearly 2,500 plaintiffs, and the first to come before a jury. "The trial's outcome could help spur a global settlement, though eight more bellwether trials are being prepared, with the next one scheduled to start this summer," notes Courthouse News Service.
Absolving parents (and ourselves) of blame: The implications of this verdict go way beyond Kaley, and even way beyond those thousands of current plaintiffs. This case—and one decided earlier this week in New Mexico—represent a legal and conceptual paradigm shift in how we consider social media.
Many people seem (or want) to believe that it's simply not possible to exercise restraint when it comes to smartphones and social media, or that parents bear any responsibility for controlling their kids' use and exposure. The shift showcases an embrace of powerlessness and corporate blame when it comes to tech habits, and a rejection of ideas like personal........