Harrison High School student reporter Emma Benvenuto shares several perspectives on a high-profile lawsuit against social media companies, raising questions about mental health, platform design, and accountability.

On March 25, 2026, a court case in California involving Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, and Google, the owner of YouTube, resulted in a jury ruling that the companies were at fault for contributing to the anxiety and depression of a 20-year-old woman. The plaintiff was awarded $6 million in damages after jurors determined that the platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive.

In response to the verdict, both Meta and Google stated that they disagreed with the jury’s decision. Meta said in a statement, “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”

Students at Harrison High School shared their perspectives on the case. 

Senior Aidan Terry said, “I think that she’s justified in suing. It’s a big win for the youth because platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok have no safeguards.”

The lawsuit follows a separate case in which Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in New Mexico for misleading users about the safety of its platform for children. In that case, the jury found that Meta violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act, which states that “unfair or deceptive trade practices and unconscionable trade practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are unlawful.”

Harrison AP Psychology teacher Leland Wilson commented on the potential impact of these lawsuits, stating, “If Meta and other social media websites can be held liable for mental health problems, it could potentially open the floodgates for other lawsuits that could cause social media sites to start self-regulating.”

 Sophomore Heather Rodgers also believes that Meta should be held liable.

“They’re making their platforms addictive, making money off of it, and profiting off people scrolling," she said. "It makes sense that someone is finally standing up and suing them over it.”

Both Meta and Google have stated their intent to appeal the ruling.

As legal challenges against major social media companies continue to grow, cases like this highlight increasing scrutiny over how digital platforms are designed and their potential impact on users. With appeals underway and similar lawsuits emerging, the outcomes may shape future regulations and the responsibilities of technology companies.