The decision that could open social media companies to more lawsuits over users’ well-being.
(Mark Abramson/The New York Times) Mark Zuckerberg, center, Meta’s chief executive, departs after testifying in a tech addiction trial at California Superior Court of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles, Feb. 18, 2026. The social media company Meta and the video streaming service YouTube harmed a young user with design features that were addictive and led to her mental health distress, a jury found on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, a landmark decision that could open social media companies to more lawsuits over users’ well-being.