Meta and YouTube have been ordered by a California jury to pay significant damages to a 20-year-old woman. The jury found that the social media giant and video platform were intentionally designed to engage young users without considering their well-being. This verdict, delivered in a groundbreaking lawsuit, may have far-reaching implications for numerous similar cases alleging harm to children by social media companies.
The plaintiff, known as KGM, testified that she developed an addiction to social media during her childhood, which exacerbated her mental health struggles. After extensive deliberations, the majority of jurors agreed with her testimony and awarded her $3 million US in damages. Additionally, the jury recommended an extra $3 million US in punitive damages, citing the companies’ malicious behavior in harming children through their platforms. The final decision on the damages will rest with the judge.
This ruling against Meta marks the second legal setback for the company this week. A separate jury in New Mexico recently concluded that Meta’s actions have negatively impacted children’s mental health and safety, violating state laws.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, and YouTube’s owner, Google, have expressed disagreement with the verdict and intend to explore legal avenues, including potential appeals. Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda emphasized that YouTube is a streaming platform, not a social media site, and was constructed with responsibility in mind. Similarly, a Meta spokesperson argued that teen mental health is multifaceted and cannot be solely attributed to a single app.
During the trial, jurors heard arguments, testimonies, and evidence for about a month, including statements from the plaintiff, KGM, and Meta executives Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, did not testify in court.
KGM shared that she began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram at nine, spending significant amounts of time on social media as a child. Lawyers representing KGM, led by Mark Lanier, aimed to demonstrate that the defendants’ negligence significantly contributed to KGM’s harm. They highlighted specific platform design elements intended to engage young users, such as infinite feeds, autoplay features, and notifications.
The case, considered a bellwether trial, could influence the outcomes of numerous pending lawsuits against social media companies. Laura Marquez-Garrett, representing KGM, emphasized the historical significance of the trial, stressing the importance of bringing internal documents from Meta and Google into public view.
The trial underscores the growing concern over child and teen safety in technology, with states enacting laws to regulate social media use by minors. The verdicts in Los Angeles and New Mexico may mark a pivotal moment in addressing social media’s impact on children, setting a precedent for future legal actions.
