Google, Meta appeal for youth social media addiction case denied

Google and Meta's recent appeal related to the youth addiction case has been denied by a US judge.

A California state court judge denied petitions by ‌Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube, seeking a new trial after a jury found them liable for designing social media platforms that are harmful to young people.

Sources linked with the ruling confirmed on Wednesday that according to the court documents, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl ruled on the ‌motions on Tuesday.

In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found both tech giants, Google and Meta Platforms, liable, concluding that they deliberately designed addictive features that contributed to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia for the 20-year-old plaintiff, identified as K.G.M.

As the case proceeded further, the jury awarded $6 million in damages, with Meta held responsible for 70% and Google for 30%.

Both companies had subsequently petitioned the court to toss the verdict, arguing against the finding of negligence.

Since then, Google and Meta have indicated their intent to continue appealing the decision; the court's denial of their motion to set aside the verdict maintains the importance in legal precedent established by the initial trial

The order stating the judge's ruling and explaining the reasoning was not immediately available.