Juries in two separate trials have found Meta and Google liable for harm caused by their social media platforms. In Los Angeles, a jury ruled that Meta and Google's YouTube were negligent in designing their platforms, contributing to a 20-year-old woman's mental health struggles and addiction. The jury awarded $6 million in damages, including $3 million in punitive damages. Separately, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million after finding the company misled users about the safety of Facebook and Instagram, enabling child sexual exploitation.
The Los Angeles case is the first of its kind to hold social media companies accountable for platform design, including features like infinite scroll and autoplay that allegedly "hook" young users. The plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., testified about her struggles with body dysmorphia and compulsive use of the platforms. The jury found that both companies knew or should have known their services posed risks to minors but failed to provide adequate warnings.
Meta and Google have expressed disagreement with the verdicts and are evaluating their legal options. The cases are expected to influence thousands of similar lawsuits pending against social media companies, including those brought by attorneys-general in over 40 states. The verdicts mark a significant shift in public perception and legal accountability for Big Tech, with advocates calling it the end of an era of tech industry invincibility.
Meta's stock has faced skepticism due to its AI strategy and high costs, with the company planning to invest up to $135 billion in capital expenditures this year. The verdicts come amid growing scrutiny of social media's impact on mental health, with tech watchdog groups and children's advocates celebrating the jury decisions.