The companies are ordered to pay $3 million for personal injury damages. A jury in Los Angeles has determined that social media giants Meta and Google-owned YouTube are responsible for negligent platform design that harmed a young user’s mental health. This decision came after several days of deliberation in a personal injury lawsuit, which experts believe will have significant impacts on Big Tech. It is the first of many potential lawsuits against social media companies over addiction issues.
The jury found that the design features of these platforms contributed significantly to mental health issues and that company leaders were aware of the potential addiction risks. The companies will share $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta paying 70% and YouTube 30%. Meta is considering appealing the decision.
The ruling has been called a “long overdue validation” by nonprofit Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA), which urged lawmakers to pass legislation ensuring platform safety. The case involved a young user, K.G.M, and was part of a group of over 1,600 plaintiffs. TikTok and Snapchat settled before the trial.
The verdict came shortly after another jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for misleading users about safety features. New Mexico’s Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, who brought the second case, emphasized the need for policy changes to prioritize children’s safety over profits.