Meta and YouTube lost in a landmark trial. Is this just the tip of the iceberg?

In a bellwether case, a jury in Los Angeles found on Wednesday that Meta and YouTube are responsible for a young woman’s childhood addiction to social media, and intentionally built addictive platforms that harmed her health. The companies say they intend to appeal against the verdict, which could set a legal precedent and have far-reaching consequences.

Marianna Spring, the BBC’s social media investigations correspondent, has spent the past year speaking to whistleblowers and insiders from social media companies, revealing how algorithms designed to connect people have been helping to tear them apart. We ask if this week’s verdict is just the start of something much bigger.

Apply for Castfest tickets: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026

Producers: Valerio Esposito and Cat Farnsworth

Executive producer: James Shield

Mix: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves court in Los Angeles, February 18, 2026. Credit: Mike Blake/Reuters.