K.G.M. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al. (P.F., et al. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al., No. 23SMCV03371; JCCP 5255 Social Media Cases)

Summary

First bellwether trial in California's coordinated social media adolescent addiction proceeding (JCCP 5255, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl). The plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., alleged that design features of Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat, including recommendation and engagement features, made the platforms addictive to her as a minor and contributed to depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia. Snap and TikTok settled with her before trial for undisclosed sums. On March 25, 2026, the jury found Meta and YouTube negligent and found that they failed to warn, awarding $3 million in compensatory damages (Meta 70%, YouTube 30%) and $3 million in punitive damages ($2.1 million against Meta, $900,000 against YouTube). In June 2026 the court denied the defendants' motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial. Meta filed a notice of appeal in July 2026 and Google said YouTube plans to appeal.

Key dates

1. March 25, 2026Resolved
2. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
3. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. Ruling on Submitted Matter [P.F., et al. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al. 23SMCV03371]

   Supports: case number and court

   Minute order, Social Media Cases (JCCP), ruling on Meta's motion for summary judgment as to K.G.M. (5 Nov. 2025) Los Angeles County Superior Court (text reproduced by civile.it) Primary source

2. It awarded K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages, finding Meta 70% responsible for harm caused to the now 20-year-old plaintiff, and YouTube responsible for 30%.

   Supports: verdict and compensatory damages

   The jury decided on $2.1 million in punitive damages for Meta and $900,000 for YouTube, totaling $3 million.

   Supports: punitive damages

   Jury finds Meta and YouTube negligent in landmark lawsuit on social media safety NBC News Reporting or analysis

3. Judge Carolyn Kuhl rejected the companies' motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict – a request to throw out the jury's decision – and their motion for a new trial.

   Supports: post-trial motions denied

   Court Denies Meta and Google's Bid to Overturn Historic K.G.M. Verdict (10 June 2026) Social Media Victims Law Center (plaintiff's counsel) Reporting or analysis

4. Lawyers representing Meta filed a notice of appeal Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

   Supports: Meta's appeal

   TikTok and Snapchat parent company Snap Inc. were also initially named as defendants in the case, but each settled for undisclosed sums before the trial began.

   Supports: Snap and TikTok settlements

   José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, said in a statement Friday that YouTube plans to appeal

   Supports: YouTube's intended appeal

   Meta appeals landmark jury verdict that found it to blame for social media addiction for young users (AP, 10 July 2026) Associated Press via Spectrum News NY1 Reporting or analysis