The decision on this case comes at a time of significant authorized hassle for Mehta. Picture used for consultant functions solely | Picture credit score: Getty Pictures
Meta, the guardian firm of Instagram and Fb, has appealed the decision in a landmark social media habit case in Los Angeles, difficult a jury’s resolution that the corporate designed its platform with out regard for the well being of its younger customers.
Attorneys representing Mehta filed a discover of attraction in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Attorneys plan to make arguments associated to the attraction in future courtroom filings.
The case facilities on a 20-year-old lady who stated she grew to become hooked on social media as a baby, which exacerbated her psychological well being struggles. The jury discovered that the negligence of each Meta and Google’s YouTube, which was additionally a defendant within the case, was a major issue within the hurt brought about to the younger lady, recognized in courtroom solely by her initials, KGM, and first title, Kaylee.
The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and really helpful a further $3 million in punitive damages. Her lead lawyer, Mark Lanier, stated in a press release Friday, July 10, that the protection crew expects the appellate courtroom to “uphold the trial courtroom’s verdict and proceed its prudent utility of the legislation to this case.”
A discover of attraction begins a course of that may be prolonged. On Friday, July 10, a spokesperson for Meta launched a press release that was additionally made when the jury returned its verdict in March, saying that teen psychological well being is “extraordinarily complicated and can’t be tied to a single app.”
Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda stated in a press release on Friday, July 10, that YouTube plans to attraction and that “these are commonplace motions to maneuver this case ahead.” Meta and Google had every filed motions for post-trial judgment however the decision (a movement routinely filed by protection attorneys asking the decide to put aside the jury’s verdict) and motions for a brand new trial. Trial Court docket Decide Carolyn B. Kuhl dismissed these motions in early June.
Know-how corporations like Meta and YouTube are immune from legal responsibility for content material posted by third events below Part 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. To avoid these protections, plaintiffs targeted on design options of the platform, akin to “infinite scrolling,” the infinite nature of feeds on the platform, and autoplay options.
Questions concerning infringement of content-related areas have been the topic of quite a few objections from the defendants all through the five-week trial.
The decision on this case comes at a time of significant authorized hassle for Mehta. A New Mexico jury dominated that meth platforms endanger kids’s psychological well being and security, the day earlier than a California jury handed down its verdict. A New Mexico jury sided with state prosecutors who introduced the case and handed down a $375 million effective. Mehta stated the corporate disagrees with the ruling and can attraction the case as nicely.
“We’ll proceed to defend ourselves vigorously and stay assured in our monitor file of defending teenagers on-line,” a Meta spokesperson stated in a press release on the time of the ruling and once more on Friday.
Cayley’s case is the primary of its form, and the ruling might have an effect on the end result of hundreds of comparable lawsuits accusing social media corporations of deliberately inflicting hurt. TikTok and Snapchat’s guardian firm Snap Inc. have been additionally initially named as defendants within the go well with, however every settled for an undisclosed quantity earlier than trial started.
