A jury in a social media addiction trial against tech companies Google and Meta is struggling to reach a unanimous verdict, according to proceedings overseen by Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl.

The judge told the jury it should reach a verdict if possible, but indicated that the case would need to be retried with a new set of jurors if the current panel cannot come to an agreement.

The trial involves claims against the two major technology companies regarding social media addiction, though specific details about which company is causing the deliberation difficulties have not been disclosed by the jurors.

The case represents a significant legal challenge to major Silicon Valley companies, as courts increasingly grapple with questions about technology platforms and their potential impact on users.

If the jury remains deadlocked, the failure to reach a verdict would necessitate starting the entire legal process over with a new jury panel, potentially extending the litigation timeline significantly.