A jury in California has ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions in damages to a 20-year-old woman. The decision emerged from a lawsuit focused on the platforms’ designs, which were argued to hook young users without considering their well-being.
In a notable verdict, the plaintiff, identified as KGM, testified that she became addicted to social media during childhood. This addiction was claimed to exacerbate her mental health issues. After 40 hours of deliberation, jurors awarded her $3 million in damages, with an additional $3 million in punitive damages proposed to address malice or fraud in the platforms’ operations. The judge will determine the final damages amount.
This was the second verdict against Meta within the week, following a New Mexico jury’s decision that the company harmed children’s mental health and safety in violation of state law.
Company Reactions and Future Implications
Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Google, owner of YouTube, disagreed with the verdicts. Both companies plan to explore legal options, including appeals. Google spokesperson Jose Castañeda stated that the verdict misrepresents YouTube, emphasizing it is not a social media site. A Meta spokesperson highlighted the complex nature of teen mental health, stressing it cannot be attributed to a single app.
Legal experts, like Villanova University’s Peter Ormerod, view the verdict as significant but not definitive. He suggests a lengthy process may follow, involving appeals and additional trials.
Negligence and Responsibility
The jury found both Meta and YouTube negligent in their platform designs, causing harm to the plaintiff. They determined the companies knew of potential dangers to minors and failed to provide adequate warnings. Nine out of twelve jurors agreed on the claims against each defendant. Meta was deemed more responsible, with 70% of the blame compared to YouTube’s 30%. This proportion influenced the punitive damages: $2.1 million for Meta and $900,000 for YouTube.
TikTok and Snap, also implicated initially, settled before the trial commenced.
Testimonies and Evidence
The case involved extensive testimonies, including from key figures like Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Mosseri, and the plaintiff, Kaley. Lawyers for Kaley argued the platform features, such as endless feeds and autoplay, were designed to keep young users engaged. Jurors were instructed not to consider the content seen by Kaley due to legal protections under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
Meta attributed Kaley’s struggles to her home life, noting her therapists did not cite social media as the cause. YouTube emphasized its nature as a video platform rather than social media, highlighting reduced use over time.
Broader Implications
This trial’s outcome may impact numerous similar lawsuits. As a test case, its conclusions could guide other cases across the country. Sarah Kreps from Cornell University compared this situation to historic tobacco litigation, suggesting potential widespread legal consequences for social media companies.
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