A California jury has delivered a landmark verdict finding Meta and YouTube liable for harms caused by addictive platform design, marking a significant legal milestone in ongoing litigation over the mental health impacts of social media on young users. The jury determined that both companies were negligent in how they designed their platforms, with findings centered on addictive features built into their products. Damages were awarded in connection with harms experienced by a young user. The case represents one of the first instances of a jury holding major social media companies directly accountable for design decisions that plaintiffs argued were engineered to maximize engagement at the expense of user wellbeing. The verdict could have broad implications for the social media industry, potentially opening the door to further litigation and legislative scrutiny over how platforms are built and regulated, particularly with respect to minors. Meta and YouTube, owned by Alphabet's Google, have faced mounting legal and public pressure over allegations that their recommendation algorithms and engagement-maximizing features contribute to addiction, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among younger users. Source: alltoc.com/world/how-did-the-meta-google-social-media-case-end