On Wednesday, Meta and Google were found guilty of designing social media platforms harmful to children and adolescents.
According to Reuters, AFP, and CNN, a Los Angeles jury ruled against Google and Meta in a lawsuit filed by Kaylee, a 20-year-old American woman who experienced depression and anxiety after becoming addicted to Instagram and YouTube during her youth.
The jury concluded that both companies were aware of the addiction risks for young users when designing Instagram and YouTube but failed to warn them. Consequently, Meta and Google were ordered to pay 4.2 million USD and 1.8 million USD in damages, respectively.
The lead counsel for the plaintiffs declared that today’s verdict is akin to a public referendum from the jury to the entire industry, marking the dawn of an era of accountability.
Google and Meta have indicated their intent to appeal. A Meta spokesperson told CNN that teen mental health is incredibly complex and can’t be attributed to a single app. It is confident in the efforts to protect young people online.
The plaintiffs also sued other social media giants, TikTok and Snapchat, but these companies reached settlements before the trial.
During the proceedings, the plaintiffs argued that the companies pursued profits through user addiction, despite knowing the potential harm to youth mental health.
Lawyers for Google and Meta refuted a direct causal link, asserting that the plaintiff’s mental health issues stemmed from family conflicts and personal circumstances.
Last month, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), testified in court, insisting that Meta never intentionally designed its platform to encourage compulsive use among teenagers.
However, after more than eight days of deliberation, the jury sided with the plaintiffs, accepting that the addictive design of both platforms led to compulsive usage.
This case is expected to set a precedent for over 1,500 similar lawsuits against tech giants like Meta, Google, TikTok, and Snapchat.
The previous day, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay 375 million USD in damages for violating state consumer protection laws and failing to adequately block child predators on Instagram. Another trial against Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat is scheduled for July in Los Angeles.
Gil Luria, a technology analyst at D.A. Davidson, commented on the verdict that while future litigation and appeals may cause significant delays, ultimately, companies will be forced to implement consumer safeguards that could impede their growth.
Recently, the detrimental effects of social media on youth mental health have become a global concern, prompting discussions about regulatory measures. Australia pioneered this effort last December by banning access to major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for users under 16.
California, the home of Silicon Valley, is also advancing legislation to prohibit social media use by minors under 16.