A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Meta and Google are liable for harm caused to a young woman who alleged she became addicted to their social media platforms as a child, the BBC reported.
The plaintiff, identified as Kaley, was awarded $6 million in damages, including $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. Her lawyers argued that features such as infinite scrolling were designed to be addictive and that the companies targeted young users to increase engagement. Jurors agreed, finding that the companies acted with «malice, oppression, or fraud» in how their platforms were operated.
Kaley testified that she began using Instagram at age 9 and YouTube at age 6, without being prevented from accessing the platforms despite age restrictions. She said her use of social media contributed to anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia. She also described spending long periods on the platforms, including up to 16 hours in a single day.
Although the case focused primarily on Instagram, owned by Meta, YouTube was also included. Meta is responsible for 70% of the damages, while Google will pay the remaining 30%.
Both companies said they disagreed with the verdict and plan to appeal. Meta stated that teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single app, while Google said that YouTube is a streaming platform, not a social media network.
The verdict comes shortly after a separate jury decision in New Mexico also found Meta liable for exposing children to harmful content and risks on its platforms. The rulings may have implications for other similar cases currently moving through U.S. courts.
