business
YouTube joins Meta in appealing a jury verdict that faulted them for users' social media addiction
By Kaitlyn Huamani | The Associated Press at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC)
· July 15, 2026
· 3 min read
YouTube has appealed the verdict of a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles , seeking to challenge the jury’s determination that the company designed its platform to hook young users without concern for their well-being.
Lawyers representing YouTube filed a notice of appeal Mon...
Key takeaway The case centered on a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child and that it worsened her mental health struggles.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The appeal by YouTube, following closely on the heels of Meta's, sets the stage for a prolonged legal battle in Los Angeles County Superior Court. This case has significant implications for the city's residents, particularly its young people, who are among the most active users of social media platforms. The jury's verdict, which found both companies negligent in contributing to the plaintiff's mental health struggles, suggests that the court is taking a closer look at the responsibility of social media companies to protect their users. As the appeal moves forward, Los Angeles residents will be watching to see how the appellate court weighs the evidence and whether it upholds the jury's decision. The city's large and diverse population makes it a critical testing ground for these issues, and the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for social media companies and their users in Los Angeles and beyond.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 15, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more The Los Angeles stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering business and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? YouTube has appealed the verdict of a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles, seeking to challenge the jury’s determination that the company designed its platform to hook young users without concern for their well-being.
Lawyers representing YouTube filed a notice of appeal Mon...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 15, 2026 by NBC Los Angeles (KNBC) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kaitlyn Huamani | The Associated Press at NBC Los Angeles (KNBC). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More business →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter