Landmark Verdict
A California jury ruled Wednesday that Meta and YouTube were negligent in designing and operating their social media platforms, ordering the companies to pay $6 million to a woman, identified as K.G.M., who argued that she developed an addiction to their products as a child. The verdict marks the end of the first-ever jury trial over whether tech giants should be held accountable for social media addiction. The jury found Meta 70% responsible and YouTube 30% responsible for the harm caused to K.G.M.
Plaintiff's Allegations
K.G.M., now 20 years old, testified that using YouTube when she was six and Instagram around age nine led to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. During her testimony, K.G.M. described getting an emotional "rush" from likes and notifications. K.G.M. brought the case against Meta and Google-owned YouTube in 2023.
Liability and Damages
The jury awarded K.G.M. $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. The jurors also found that the companies were aware that their platforms could have adverse effects on minors but failed to adequately warn users.
Defense Arguments
Attorneys for Meta and YouTube argued their platforms aren't purposefully harmful and addictive. A Meta spokesperson pointed to "significant emotional and physical abuse" that K.G.M. experienced when she was younger. An attorney for YouTube said there wasn't a single mention of addiction to that platform in K.G.M.'s medical records. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that enforcing Instagram's age restrictions can be difficult because there are "a meaningful number of people who lie about their age to use our services."
Echoes of Tobacco Lawsuits
The trial included testimony from Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, drawing comparisons to the tobacco industry lawsuits in the 1990s. The plaintiff's legal team also pressed Zuckerberg and Mosseri over Instagram's beauty filters, which they said played an important role in K.G.M.'s social media use. Mark Lanier, K.G.M.'s lead attorney, has said he hopes the proceedings produce transparency and accountability.
Legal Precedent
The verdict could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies. The plaintiffs' counsel said, "This verdict sends an unmistakable message that no company is above accountability when it comes to our children." Matt Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center, said the jury's decision "establishes a framework for how similar cases across the country will be evaluated."
Company Response
A Meta spokesperson said, "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal." José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, also said the case "misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site." Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said that "we respectfully disagree with that decision and we're appealing."
Broader Implications
The case is one of many lawsuits alleging harm by social media companies. TikTok and Snap settled before the trial began but remain defendants in a series of similar lawsuits expected to go to trial this year. Another bellwether social media trial is set to begin in June in federal court, putting together nationwide cases from attorneys general, school districts, local governments and families.
