A US jury has ruled that Meta and YouTube are liable for harming a young user through addictive design features and for not warning about risks to children and teens. The Los Angeles court decision is a significant setback for major social media companies. The case was brought by a 20-year-old woman who testified that her use of Instagram and YouTube since childhood led to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
The jury awarded the woman $3 million in damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages. She testified that her engagement with the platforms intensified over time, affecting her mental well-being. The plaintiff’s lawyer argued that the companies intentionally designed their platforms to keep children engaged, aiming to punish such behavior and prevent its recurrence in the future.
While the defence suggested that the plaintiff’s struggles were influenced by other factors, including personal circumstances and bullying, the company executives denied that their platforms were designed to be addictive. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that their goal is to offer useful services, not maximize user time. Meta and YouTube plan to appeal the verdict, stating that teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single app.
The ruling is significant as it could impact similar lawsuits, with over 3,000 cases pending in California courts targeting various social media companies. Legal experts believe this verdict may shape how courts handle claims related to social media and mental health, particularly concerning minors. The decision also reflects a broader global trend of increased scrutiny on social media’s effects on young users.
