Meta and YouTube Face Liability and Regulatory Scrutiny Over Harm to Minors
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable in a landmark lawsuit brought by a 20-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., ruling that social media platforms can be addictive and that their design contributed to mental health harm she says began while using the services as a minor. Jurors awarded $3 million in damages, assigning 70% of the payment to Meta and 30% to YouTube, after concluding the companies were negligent; deliberations on punitive damages were still continuing. The case focused on features such as infinite scroll and exposure that allegedly fueled depression and suicidal thoughts, and the verdict is expected to bolster thousands of similar claims against Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap. A separate New Mexico case also recently ordered Meta to pay $375 million over alleged failures tied to child safety and sexual exploitation risks on its platforms.
In Australia, pressure on major platforms intensified as the country’s online safety regulator opened investigations into possible violations of the national ban on social media use by children under 16. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said some companies may not be doing enough to comply with the law despite initial measures, naming Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube as platforms of concern. Together, the court ruling in the United States and the Australian probe underscore growing legal and regulatory action against social media companies over platform design, child safety, and protections for minors.
Timeline
Mar 30, 2026
Australia opens probe into platforms over under-16 social media ban
Australia's online safety regulator said it is investigating major technology platforms for possible non-compliance with the country's ban on social media use by children under 16. The eSafety Commissioner identified Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube as platforms of concern.
Mar 25, 2026
Los Angeles jury finds Meta and YouTube liable for harm to minor user
A Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of a 20-year-old plaintiff identified as K.G.M., finding that social media platforms can be addictive and holding Meta and YouTube liable for negligence. The jury awarded $3 million in damages, allocating 70% to Meta and 30% to YouTube, while punitive damages were still under deliberation.
Mar 25, 2026
New Mexico jury orders Meta to pay $375 million in child safety case
In a separate recent verdict referenced in the coverage, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million over failures related to child safety and sexual exploitation risks on its platforms. The ruling added to growing legal pressure on social media companies over harms to minors.
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