Meta and YouTube found liable for social media addiction by jury

A Los Angeles County court has reached a verdict in a landmark civil trial involving Alphabet’s Google and Meta. A jury has recommended that both companies pay $6 million in damages to the plaintiff, KGM.

KGM, a 20-year-old woman from California, filed a lawsuit against Google and Meta alleging that their social media platforms were designed with addictive features that contributed to her mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The plaintiff testified that she began using social media at a young age and experienced significant distress as a result.

The trial began on February 9 and lasted over 40 hours. During the proceedings, both sides presented evidence, including testimony from experts and text messages exchanged between KGM and her mother. Meta argued that KGM’s mental health struggles predated her use of social media, while Google-owned YouTube claimed that KGM used their platform as a coping mechanism.

The jury ultimately found Meta liable for damages, concluding that the company was negligent in designing or operating Instagram. The verdict also recommends that Google pay $6 million in damages to KGM.

Outside the court, campaigners and parents expressed support for the jury’s decision, stating that social media use has harmed many young people. The plaintiff’s lawyers welcomed the verdict, saying it recognizes the harm caused by social media addiction.

Source: Al Jazeera