Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has filed an appeal against a significant legal decision in Los Angeles. The jury had determined that the company deliberately designed its platforms to engage young users in a manner that neglected their well-being.
Lawyers for Meta submitted a notice of appeal on Tuesday at the Los Angeles County Superior Court. They will present their detailed arguments in further court submissions.
The case involved a 20-year-old woman, identified as KGM or Kaley, who claimed her childhood social media addiction exacerbated her mental health issues. The jury attributed significant responsibility to the negligence of Meta and Google-owned YouTube, also named in the lawsuit. Kaley was awarded $3 million in damages, with an additional $3 million in punitive damages recommended by the jury.
Mark Lanier, her lead attorney, expressed confidence that the appellate court will uphold the original verdict. A notice of appeal marks the beginning of a potentially lengthy legal process. A Meta spokesperson reiterated their previous stance, emphasizing that teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single application.
José Castañeda, representing Google, confirmed YouTube’s plan to appeal, indicating this is a standard procedural step in the case progression.
Following the trial, Meta and Google filed motions asking for the verdict to be overturned and for a new trial, a common defense strategy. Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl denied these motions in June.
Tech companies like Meta and YouTube usually avoid legal accountability for third-party content due to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Plaintiffs in this case focused on platform design features, such as “infinite scroll” and autoplay, which keep users engaged.
This case coincides with a similar verdict in New Mexico, where another jury found Meta’s platforms detrimental to children’s mental health, resulting in a $375 million penalty. Meta plans to appeal this verdict as well.
A Meta spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to vigorously defending itself and highlighted their efforts in safeguarding teenagers online.
Kaley’s lawsuit stands as a precedent in social media-related legal challenges. The outcome could affect many similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of causing deliberate harm. TikTok and Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., were initially defendants in the case but settled before trial for undisclosed amounts.
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