A jury in Los Angeles has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive products that harmed a young user, awarding $6 million in damages. The verdict, reached after nearly nine days of deliberations, holds Meta responsible for 70% of the damages and YouTube for the remainder. The case is the first of its kind to go to trial over social media's alleged harm to young people.
The plaintiff, identified as KGM, testified that she became addicted to YouTube at age six and Instagram at nine, leading to depression, self-harm, and strained relationships. By age 13, she was diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder and social phobia, which she attributes to her social media use. Her lawyers argued that features like infinite scroll and autoplay were engineered to keep children hooked, comparing them to 'Trojan horses'.
The jury found both companies negligent and failing to provide adequate warnings about the dangers of their products. The 12-person panel voted 10-2 in favor of the plaintiff on all questions. Meta and YouTube have announced plans to appeal, with Meta stating that teen mental health is complex and cannot be linked to a single app, while YouTube argued it is a streaming platform, not a social media site.
The verdict comes a day after Meta was ordered to pay $375 million in a separate New Mexico case over child safety. These back-to-back rulings mark the first time Meta has been held liable for the effects of its products on young people. KGM's lawyers hailed the verdict as a historic moment for children and families affected by social media addiction.
