A jury reached a landmark verdict Wednesday finding that Meta and YouTube deliberately designed their social media applications to be addictive, according to court proceedings that are part of broader litigation against major technology companies.

The verdict represents part of ongoing trials testing legal strategies that claim Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube caused personal injury through products designed to be addictive. These cases mark a new approach in litigation against social media companies, focusing on product design rather than content moderation issues.

Emma Lembke, founder of the Log Off Movement and Gen Z advocacy director at the Sustainable Media Center, described the verdict as a "watershed moment" in an interview with CBS News. The Log Off Movement advocates for digital wellness and reduced social media usage among young people.

The trials are examining whether social media companies can be held liable for designing platforms with features intended to maximize user engagement and time spent on their applications. Legal experts have noted these cases could establish new precedents for how technology companies are regulated and held accountable for their product design decisions.

The litigation involves multiple technology companies and represents one of the most significant legal challenges to date regarding social media platform design and its impact on users. The cases are ongoing, with additional trials expected to continue examining similar claims against other major social media platforms.