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Torts/Personal Injury

Jun. 11, 2026

Judge upholds $6M social media addiction verdict against Meta, YouTube

A Los Angeles judge refused to overturn a landmark $6 million jury verdict against Meta and YouTube in the social media addiction litigation, ruling that claims centered on allegedly addictive platform design features are not barred by Section 230 or the First Amendment.

A judge overseeing the coordinated social media addiction litigation in Los Angeles denied bids by Meta and Google to overturn this year's landmark $6 million bellwether verdict, finding the companies could be held liable for allegedly addictive platform design features. The court rejected arguments that federal immunity for online content and free speech law required judgment in their favor.

In March, a jury returned a first-of-its-kind verdict for a plaintiff identified as K...

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