A California jury has found tech giants Meta and YouTube guilty of intentionally harming a young woman’s mental health and fostering addiction to their platforms. This marks the first time social media companies have been held accountable under such charges.
The court ruled that the companies were negligent in the design of their platforms, knowing the risks but failing to warn users. According to the verdict, Meta is responsible for 70% of the damages, while YouTube is responsible for 30%.
The Court’s Decision
The court ordered the companies to pay a total of $3 million in compensatory damages. Additionally, the jury imposed punitive sanctions: $2.1 million for Meta and $900,000 for YouTube.
However, this case is about more than just money. This verdict clears the way for over 1,500 similar lawsuits filed against tech giants. Experts are comparing this trial to the historic battle against tobacco giants decades ago, when it was proven that cigarette manufacturers knew about the harmful effects of their products but concealed them.
Today, social networks face similar accusations of deliberately creating addictive algorithms. This means the verdict could force companies to fundamentally change how their platforms operate to ensure they no longer harm the health of users, especially children.
What the Tech Giants Say
The tech giants denied the allegations. Meta argued that the girl’s mental health issues stemmed from a difficult childhood rather than the app, while YouTube representatives stated that, according to data, she used the platform for only a short time each day, which they claimed contradicted the addiction charges.
Both giants plan to appeal the decision. Meta states that adolescent mental health is a complex issue and that linking it to one specific app is incorrect. A representative for Google (the owner of YouTube) noted that the court does not understand their platform, asserting that YouTube is a streaming service, not social media.
