Google-owned YouTube has formally challenged the verdict in a landmark US lawsuit that found the platform responsible for contributing to a young user’s social media addiction, joining Meta in contesting the decision before an appellate court.
The notice of appeal was submitted in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday, days after Meta initiated its own appeal. Both companies are expected to outline the legal grounds for their challenges in future filings.
Also read: Meta & YouTube Held Liable In Landmark Social Media Addiction Case
The case was brought by a 20-year-old woman, identified in court records only as Kaley (KGM), who argued that prolonged use of social media from childhood negatively affected her mental health. Jurors concluded that the conduct of both YouTube and Meta played a significant role in causing that harm.
Following the verdict, the jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and advised an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Kaley’s lead counsel, Mark Lanier, previously said he expects the appeals court to uphold the trial court’s ruling.
Earlier this month, Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl rejected separate requests from Google and Meta seeking a fresh trial. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda had also confirmed that YouTube intended to appeal, describing the filing as a routine procedural step.
Throughout the five-week proceedings, YouTube maintained that its video-sharing service should not be categorised as a social media platform. Lawyers representing both companies also argued that many of the claims conflicted with the protections granted under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which generally shields online platforms from liability over user-generated content.
Instead of challenging third-party content, the plaintiff’s legal team argued that platform features such as autoplay encouraged prolonged engagement and excessive use, making the design of the services central to the case.
The lawsuit is widely viewed as a precedent-setting legal battle, with potential implications for thousands of similar claims against social media companies. TikTok and Snap Inc., which owns Snapchat, were initially included as defendants but settled the matter for undisclosed amounts before the trial began.
