Meta and Google Found Liable in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit
A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and Alphabet’s Google liable for damages in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit, potentially influencing thousands of similar cases against the tech companies. The verdict signals a turning point in the global backlash against social media platforms and their perceived mental health harms to youth.
Details of the Verdict
The jury found Meta liable for $4.2 million (approximately $6 million USD) and Google for $1.8 million (approximately $2.59 million USD). Meta will be responsible for 70% of the damages, while Google will cover the remaining 30%.
The Case
The lawsuit was brought by a 20-year-traditional woman who alleged she became addicted to Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram at a young age due to their attention-grabbing designs. The jury concluded that both Google and Meta were negligent in the design of the apps and failed to adequately warn users about potential dangers.
Company Responses
Meta has stated it disagrees with the verdict and is evaluating its legal options. Google plans to appeal, asserting that YouTube is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Legal Battles
This case focused on platform design rather than content, potentially making it more difficult for the companies to avoid liability in future lawsuits. Snapchat owner Snap and TikTok were also initially defendants in the trial but settled with the plaintiff before it began; the terms of those settlements were not disclosed.
Mounting Criticism and Legislative Efforts
Large technology companies in the United States have faced increasing criticism over the past decade regarding child and teen safety. This has led to a shift towards legal challenges and state-level legislation. At least 20 US states enacted laws in 2023 regulating social media usage and children, including bills regulating mobile phone use in schools and requiring age verification for social media accounts.
NetChoice, a trade association supported by tech companies like Meta and Google, is challenging age verification requirements in court. A separate social media addiction case involving multiple US states and school districts against technology companies is scheduled to go to trial this year in federal court in Oakland, California. Another trial is planned in Los Angeles in July, involving Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Recent Related Ruling in New Mexico
Separately, a New Mexico jury recently found Meta in violation of state law, accusing the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp and enabling child sexual exploitation on those platforms.
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