Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
A Los Angeles jury delivered a historic ruling in favor of a young woman who alleged that Meta and YouTube caused her childhood social media dependency. The 20-year-old plaintiff, referred to as Kaley, was granted $6m in damages, marking a pivotal moment for ongoing legal challenges against tech giants. The decision suggests similar cases could face broader scrutiny as they progress through US courts.
Companies plan to appeal
Meta, which controls Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, and Google, owner of YouTube, both contested the verdict. Meta emphasized that teen mental health is multifaceted and cannot be attributed solely to a single platform. “We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously,” a spokesperson said, adding that each case has unique circumstances. Google argued that YouTube is a streaming service, not a social media platform, and that the verdict misunderstands its role.
“Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” said a Meta spokesperson.
“This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform,” added a Google representative.
Verdict details and damages
The jury awarded Kaley $3m in compensatory damages and an extra $3m in punitive damages. This was based on the claim that Meta and Google “acted with malice, oppression, or fraud” by designing addictive features. Meta is expected to cover 70% of the total award, while Google will bear 30%. The ruling highlights the companies’ alleged responsibility in exposing children to harmful content and fostering dependency.
Parents and broader context
Parents of other children, not directly involved in Kaley’s case, gathered outside the courthouse as the verdict was announced. They had been present for much of the five-week trial, expressing hope for justice. The LA ruling follows a similar verdict in New Mexico, where a jury found Meta liable for endangering children through its platforms. Analysts suggest these outcomes reflect growing public frustration with social media’s impact on youth.
“Negative sentiment toward social media has been building for years, and now it’s finally boiled over,” said Mike Proulx, a research director for Forrester.
Testimony and settlements
Kaley testified that she began using Instagram at nine and YouTube at six, without age restrictions. She described how her focus on social media led to disengagement with family and the onset of anxiety and depression. Years later, she was diagnosed with body dysmorphia, a condition linked to excessive concern over appearance. Her legal team argued that features like infinite scroll were engineered to maximize user engagement, turning platforms into “addiction machines.”
While the trial primarily targeted Meta and Instagram, Google and other companies like Snap and TikTok were also initially named. However, Snap and TikTok settled with Kaley before the trial began, leaving Meta and Google as the central defendants. During the trial, Zuckerberg highlighted Meta’s policy against users under 13, though internal documents showed the company was aware of younger users accessing its platforms. He claimed the company had made “right progress over time” to address the issue.
