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Jury at U.S. Social Media Addiction Trial Reports ‘Difficulty’ in Finding Consensus
Jurors deadlocked on one defendant in a landmark social media addiction trial and are urged to continue deliberations to avoid a costly partial retrial, Judge warns.
- On Monday, jurors in the landmark Los Angeles social media addiction trial told Judge Carolyn Kuhl they are struggling to reach a unanimous verdict for one defendant. Kuhl ordered continued deliberations, warning that deadlock would force a partial retrial.
- The trial centers on allegations by plaintiff K.G.M., a 20-year-old from Chico who claims Meta and YouTube designed "addictive practices" causing severe mental distress. Her attorneys argue these design flaws, not user-posted content, created platform liability.
- Defense attorneys contend K.G.M.'s struggles stemmed from "alleged verbal and physical abuse by her parents" rather than platform algorithms. Plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier compared the companies to a "lion stalking a pack of vulnerable gazelles," arguing they used a "Trojan horse" strategy.
- A mistrial for the unnamed defendant would necessitate a partial retrial, delaying resolution for hundreds of pending lawsuits. This deadlock coincides with a separate New Mexico jury's recent $375 million penalty against Meta, intensifying legal pressure on social media firms.
- The outcome could challenge Section 230 protections by testing whether design choices create independent legal risks beyond content liability. Experts compare this litigation to the 1990s "Big Tobacco" lawsuits, potentially forcing sector-wide changes in how platforms manage youth safety.
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Latest on jury deliberations in California social media addiction case
Jury deliberations continue Wednesday in the landmark California social media addiction case. Meanwhile, a jury in New Mexico found Meta violated a consumer protection law by enabling child exploitation. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson has more.
NBC Chicago
What could come next for other social media firms as a jury finds Meta platforms harm children
The first jury verdict in a series of social media child safety trials this year is in — and it’s not looking good for Meta. A jury in New Mexico found on Tuesday that the social media giant’s platforms are harmful to children’s mental health and imposed a $375 million penalty. While the fine is a tiny fraction of Meta’s $201 billion revenue in 2025, the verdict illustrates a growing shift in the public’s perception of social media companies and…
Jury struggles to reach verdict in social media addiction trial against Meta and YouTube
Jurors did not say whether the holdout relates to Meta or YouTube, but Kuhl told them to keep deliberating and warned that if they cannot reach a verdict, that part of the case will have to be retried before a new jury.Read Entire Article
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