Jury finds Meta and YouTube negligent in landmark social media addiction trial
Jury finds Meta and YouTube negligent in landmark social media addiction trial
One day after Meta lost a similar child safety lawsuit in New Mexico, a Los Angeles jury on Wednesday handed the social media giant — along with YouTube — another defeat. In a case arguing that social media platforms played a major role in harming a young woman’s mental health, jurors have sided with the plaintiff, known by her initials, K.G.M., or her first name, Kaley.
The decision means Meta and YouTube will have to pay out $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta bearing 70% of that cost. More damages may also be awarded as the jury continues to deliberate.
The landmark case, taking place in Los Angeles County Superior Court, aimed to hold social media platforms accountable for their addictive products, which Kaley, who’s now 20 years old, said contributed to her anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and other conditions during her youth. Lawyers for Meta tried to argue that other factors, like Kaley’s disruptive home life and her parents’ divorce, were more to blame for her mental health struggles, not its apps.
But evidence presented at the trial swayed the jury to the plaintiff’s side, demonstrating that Meta understood how addictive its platforms could be among teens in particular, and that it was actively researching the issue and using its findings to increase engagement among young users.
In th days before this particular case went to trial, both TikTok and Snap, which were also being sued, settled with the plaintiff.
The ruling — along with others, like Tuesday’s ruling in New Mexico — may establish a precedent that social media firms are responsible for the harms their platforms cause, whether through their lack of safety measures or their algorithmic recommendations. That could open the door to a new wave of lawsuits as other plaintiffs also attempt to sue for damages.
Sarah has worked as a reporter for TechCrunch since August 2011. She joined the company after having previously spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Prior to her work as a reporter, Sarah worked in I.T. across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software.
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