A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive digital products that contributed to harm suffered by a young user, marking the first case of its kind to reach trial and result in a verdict.

The jury awarded $6 million in damages to the plaintiff, with Meta ordered to pay 70% of the total and YouTube responsible for the remainder.The decision followed nearly nine days of deliberations after a six-week trial in Los Angeles superior court.

Jurors heard testimony from company executives, expert witnesses on addiction and social media, whistleblowers, and the plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman identified in court filings as KGM.

The 12-member jury returned a 10-2 decision in favor of the plaintiff on all key questions, including whether the companies were negligent and whether their product designs were a substantial factor in causing harm.

Jurors also concluded that the companies failed to provide adequate warnings about potential risks associated with prolonged use.

KGM testified that she began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram, owned by Meta, at nine. She told the court that her use of these platforms became compulsive and had negative effects on her mental health.

According to her testimony, she experienced depression and engaged in self-harm by the age of 10.At 13, she was diagnosed by a therapist with body dysmorphic disorder and social phobia, conditions she attributed to her prolonged exposure to content and interactions on the platforms.

She also described strained relationships with family members and difficulties in school, which she linked to her social media usage.Her legal team argued that platform features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay functions were intentionally designed to maximize user engagement and create dependency.

During closing arguments, the plaintiff’s lawyer characterized these features as mechanisms that encourage prolonged use, likening them to engineered systems aimed at sustaining attention.

The plaintiff’s lawyers said the case reflected broader patterns affecting young users, arguing that similar harms have been reported by thousands of individuals and families. They stated that the verdict represented accountability for what they described as known risks associated with platform design.

Both Meta and YouTube said they would appeal the decision and rejected the jury’s findings. A Meta spokesperson said the company disagreed with the verdict and maintained that teen mental health is influenced by multiple factors that cannot be attributed to a single platform.

The company said it remains confident in its efforts to protect younger users online.A spokesperson for YouTube also disputed the outcome, stating that the case mischaracterized the platform. The company described YouTube as a responsibly designed streaming service rather than a social media network and said the allegations presented in court were inaccurate.

Throughout the trial, both companies denied wrongdoing. They argued that the plaintiff’s mental health challenges were influenced by factors outside their platforms, including personal and environmental conditions. These arguments were rejected by the jury in its final determination.

The ruling comes amid increasing legal scrutiny of large technology companies over the impact of their products on younger users. The case is part of a broader set of consolidated lawsuits in California involving more than 1,600 plaintiffs, including families and school districts.

The cases target multiple platforms, including Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap, over alleged harms linked to social media use.TikTok and Snap reached settlements in the KGM case shortly before the trial began, leaving Meta and YouTube as the remaining defendants in this proceeding.

The verdict also follows a separate ruling issued one day earlier in New Mexico, where Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in civil penalties in a case involving allegations that it misled users about platform safety and enabled harm, including child exploitation.

Together, the rulings represent the first instances in which juries have held Meta legally accountable for harms linked to its platforms.KGM’s case is the first among more than 20 planned “bellwether” trials, which are intended to test legal arguments and assess how juries respond to evidence in similar cases.

These trials are expected to influence settlement discussions and shape legal precedent in ongoing litigation against social media companies.

The next bellwether trial is scheduled for July, while a separate series of federal cases involving hundreds of plaintiffs is set to begin in San Francisco in June.

The rapid rise of short-form video platforms such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts is coinciding with measurable shifts in reading patterns, particularly among younger audiences.

Data from the Pew Research Center indicates that screen-based media consumption has increased significantly over the past decade, with a growing share of time allocated to short, algorithm-driven content.

While the data does not attribute causality, researchers note a corresponding decline in time spent on long-form reading, including books and extended articles.Publishing industry reports suggest that this shift is affecting both consumption habits and market strategies.

According to the Association of American Publishers, overall book revenues have remained relatively stable in recent years, but the formats and categories showing growth increasingly align with digital discovery patterns.

Publishers report that titles gaining visibility through social media trends, including short-form video recommendations, often see short-term spikes in sales, indicating that digital platforms are reshaping how readers encounter written content.

Researchers examining digital behavior describe short-form video as part of a broader “attention economy,” where platforms compete for user engagement through rapid, visually driven content.

Studies from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development highlight that average attention spans for digital tasks have decreased as users adapt to faster information cycles.

While these findings do not directly measure reading comprehension, they suggest that sustained engagement with long-form material may be affected by changing consumption patterns.Educational assessments provide additional context.

Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment indicates that reading proficiency among adolescents in several countries has shown stagnation or decline in recent cycles.

Analysts caution that multiple factors contribute to this trend, including socio-economic variables and education policy, but note that increased screen time is frequently examined as a contributing variable in academic research.

Digital platforms, however, have also created new pathways into reading. Book-related communities on short-form video platforms have emerged as influential drivers of engagement.

Industry observers point to the rise of user-generated recommendations, often referred to as “BookTok” on TikTok, where short videos highlighting specific titles can generate substantial interest.

Publishers and retailers have responded by adjusting marketing strategies to align with these trends, integrating social media campaigns into traditional promotional cycles.

The intersection of reading and short-form video has led to structural changes within the publishing sector. Major publishing houses and independent authors alike are increasingly leveraging social media analytics to identify emerging reader preferences.

According to industry data compiled by the Association of American Publishers, titles that achieve viral visibility often experience rapid sales acceleration, particularly in young adult and fiction categories.

Retailers have also adapted. Online marketplaces and physical bookstores have introduced curated sections featuring titles trending on social media platforms. This reflects a shift in discovery mechanisms, where algorithmic recommendation systems operate alongside traditional literary criticism and editorial curation.

At the same time, digital reading formats have expanded. E-books and audiobooks, distributed through platforms such as Kindle, have gained traction among users who consume content on mobile devices. Industry analysts note that while these formats differ from traditional print reading, they still represent engagement with long-form narratives.

The growth of audiobooks, in particular, is associated with multitasking behavior, allowing users to integrate reading into daily routines.

Despite these adaptations, concerns remain regarding the depth of engagement. Academic studies examining reading behavior suggest that comprehension and retention may differ between long-form reading and fragmented digital consumption.

Researchers emphasize that sustained reading requires cognitive processes that are not typically activated during short-form video consumption, although further longitudinal studies are needed to establish definitive conclusions.

Policymakers and educators are increasingly examining how to balance digital media use with reading development. Government education departments in multiple countries have introduced initiatives aimed at promoting literacy, often incorporating digital tools rather than excluding them.

Reports from the OECD indicate that integrating technology into reading instruction can yield positive outcomes when structured effectively, though unregulated screen time remains a concern.

Schools and libraries are also adapting their approaches. Digital lending platforms and online reading programs have been expanded to meet users in the environments where they are most active. At the same time, literacy campaigns continue to emphasize the importance of sustained reading for academic and cognitive development.

In India, where smartphone penetration has grown rapidly, similar patterns are emerging. While comprehensive national data on the relationship between short-form video and reading habits remains limited, educators and publishers report anecdotal evidence of shifting preferences among students.

Government initiatives promoting digital education have focused on accessibility, but experts note the need for parallel efforts to encourage reading as a sustained practice.The evolving relationship between reading and short-form video reflects broader changes in media consumption.

While digital platforms have introduced new challenges to traditional reading habits, they have also created alternative pathways for engagement.

The extent to which these trends will reshape long-term literacy outcomes remains a subject of ongoing research, with implications for education systems, publishing markets, and digital policy frameworks.

Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program, the event highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing technology, services, and innovation in the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem.

The conference promises a comprehensive program featuring more than 80 sessions and 60 workshops, providing a platform for academics, researchers, and representatives from Hajj affairs offices and diplomatic missions worldwide.

Over 2,400 trainees from across the globe are expected to attend, reflecting the Kingdom’s dedication to sharing expertise, best practices, and modern solutions that enhance the pilgrim experience.

More than 260 exhibitors from 137 countries will participate, showcasing the latest technologies, services, and innovations designed to support pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah.

Exhibitions will include advancements in urban development, smart services, crowd management, health and safety, and digital platforms that streamline pilgrim logistics.

By bringing together diverse participants, the conference encourages collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the adoption of modern solutions tailored to the needs of millions of pilgrims visiting Makkah each year.

High-impact initiatives are expected to be launched during the event, with officials signing new agreements to strengthen the integration of technology, infrastructure, and services for pilgrims.

These initiatives aim to create a seamless, safe, and comfortable experience for visitors, leveraging cutting-edge tools such as artificial intelligence, smart applications, and innovative service delivery models.

The conference underscores Saudi Arabia’s proactive approach to modernizing the Hajj and Umrah experience while preserving the spiritual and cultural significance of these sacred journeys.

On Monday, Makkah Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah in Jeddah to review preparations for the conference and assess pilgrim services.

Discussions focused on ensuring that all logistical, technological, and service-oriented aspects of the event are executed efficiently, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to excellence in managing the world’s largest annual religious gathering.

The Hajj Conference and Exhibition serves as a unique platform for public and private sector collaboration, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s vision for sustainable development and innovative service delivery.

By uniting stakeholders from government institutions, technology companies, research organizations, and international delegations, the event fosters partnerships that will shape the future of pilgrim services.

The conference will also focus on enhancing the training and development of personnel involved in Hajj and Umrah operations. Through specialized workshops and interactive sessions, participants will gain valuable insights into modern service practices, crowd management strategies, emergency preparedness, and the application of new technologies.

This focus on human capacity building ensures that Saudi Arabia continues to set global standards for safe, efficient, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrim experiences.

Moreover, the event emphasizes the Kingdom’s role as a global hub for religious tourism innovation. By promoting technological solutions, sustainable practices, and advanced services, the Hajj Conference contributes to creating a more organized, safe, and enjoyable experience for millions of pilgrims.

It also highlights Saudi Arabia’s leadership in combining heritage, culture, and innovation to meet the evolving needs of the global Muslim community.

With the fifth Hajj Conference and Exhibition, Jeddah is positioned to become a center of innovation, learning, and collaboration for the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem.

The event not only showcases the Kingdom’s achievements in technology and service integration but also reinforces its vision of providing world-class pilgrim experiences while supporting global cooperation, knowledge sharing, and sustainable development in religious tourism.