Jury reaches verdict in social media addiction trial, finds Meta liable for harm to children

Update (March 25): A New Mexico jury has delivered one of the first major rulings in the growing wave of social media addiction lawsuits, finding Meta liable for misleading the public about platform safety and exposing children to harm. After a nearly seven-week trial, jurors concluded the company violated state consumer protection laws through deceptive and "unconscionable" practices, with thousands of violations adding up to $375 million in penalties.

State officials argued Meta ignored internal warnings about risks to young users while prioritizing engagement and profit. The company says it will appeal, maintaining that it discloses risks and actively works to limit harmful content.

The original story follows below:

The jury in the closely watched Los Angeles social media addiction trial told Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl on Monday that it was having trouble reaching a consensus on one of the two remaining defendants. The case is an important one for ...