A jury in Los Angeles has stalled in a closely watched trial accusing Google and Meta of contributing to youth social media addiction and mental health harm. After more than a week of deliberations, jurors told the judge they were struggling to reach a consensus regarding one of the defendants, though they did not specify which company. The judge said the panel should continue trying to reach a verdict, but warned that a mistrial could lead to a retrial with a new jury.

The case centers on a young woman who said she became addicted to YouTube and Instagram as a child and alleges the platforms contributed to her depression and body image issues. She claims the companies knowingly designed features to keep young users engaged despite potential harm. The outcome could influence thousands of similar lawsuits filed by parents, state attorneys general, and school districts.

In related proceedings, Instagram head Adam Mosseri recently defended the platform's design choices in court, rejecting claims that the company fueled a youth mental health crisis. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is also expected to testify as the legal battle over social media's impact on young users continues.