LOS ANGELES: A California jury has found Meta and Google liable for designing addictive social media platforms that harmed a young user, in a landmark ruling that could reshape legal accountability for Big Tech.
The verdict, delivered this week in Los Angeles, concluded that features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling contributed to compulsive use and worsening mental health. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old woman identified in court as K.G.M., said she developed severe anxiety, depression and body image issues after using Instagram and YouTube from an early age.
Jurors awarded approximately $6 million in damages, finding both companies negligent in the design of their platforms and in failing to warn users of potential risks.
The case is the first of its kind to go to trial and succeed, and is widely viewed as a test for thousands of similar lawsuits filed across the United States.
Plaintiffs argued that the companies engineered their products to maximize engagement, prioritizing growth over user safety. One claim cited in the case alleged platforms had “rewired how our kids think, feel, and behave.”
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and Google, which owns YouTube, have denied wrongdoing and said they plan to appeal.
Legal experts say the ruling may mark a turning point by focusing on platform design rather than user-generated content, potentially bypassing longstanding liability protections for tech firms.
Advocates likened the decision to a “Big Tobacco moment” for the tech industry, warning it could open the door to further claims and stricter regulation aimed at protecting children online.