A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and Google negligent for designing social media platforms deemed harmful to young users, awarding a total of $6 million in damages in a closely watched case.
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The verdict assigns $4.2 million in liability to Meta and $1.8 million to Google, marking a significant legal development despite the relatively small financial penalties for the tech giants. The case is expected to serve as a bellwether for thousands of similar lawsuits consolidated in California courts.
The lawsuit was brought by a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley, who argued that she became addicted to platforms such as YouTube and Instagram due to features like “infinite scroll” designed to maximize user engagement. The jury concluded that both companies failed to adequately warn users about the risks associated with their platform designs.
Legal experts say the case is notable because it focuses on platform design rather than user-generated content, an area where tech companies have traditionally enjoyed strong legal protections under US law.
Both Meta and Google have rejected the verdict and indicated plans to appeal. Analysts suggest the ruling could eventually push technology companies to introduce stronger safeguards for younger users, even if the legal process stretches over years.
The trial also comes amid growing scrutiny of social media’s impact on children and teenagers, with increasing pressure on lawmakers and regulators to introduce stricter safety standards.
Other companies, including Snap and TikTok, were initially part of the case but reached settlements before the trial began.
