Key facts
- A jury found Meta (Instagram/Facebook) and YouTube liable for designing addictive platforms.
A California judge denied Meta and Google's motions for a new trial after a jury found them liable for designing addictive social media platforms that harmed a young user. The companies were ordered to pay $6 million in damages.
This ruling reinforces the jury's decision against Meta and YouTube, potentially paving the way for further legal challenges against social media companies regarding platform design and its impact on young users.
A California state court judge has denied motions by Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube seeking a new trial after a jury found them liable for designing social media platforms that are harmful to young people. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl ruled on the motions on Tuesday. The companies had sought a new trial after a jury found them negligent and imposed $6 million in damages. The jury determined Meta was 70% responsible and YouTube 30% responsible for the harm to the 20-year-old plaintiff, who testified that her childhood addiction to social media exacerbated her mental health struggles. The verdict is considered a first-of-its-kind ruling that could influence thousands of similar lawsuits. Meta and YouTube have stated their disagreement with the verdict and intend to appeal.