In a first-of-its-kind verdict, a US jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for harm caused to a young user in a closely watched social media addiction case, marking a significant moment in holding tech platforms accountable for user well-being.
The jury awarded a total of $6 million in damages, including both compensatory and punitive components, with a larger share attributed to Meta and the remainder to YouTube’s parent company.
At the core of the case were allegations that the platforms were deliberately designed to be addictive. Lawyers for the plaintiff argued that features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithm-driven content recommendations contributed to compulsive usage patterns, particularly among minors.
The case centered on a young woman who began using YouTube at the age of six and Instagram at nine, and later developed mental health issues including anxiety and depression, which were linked to prolonged platform use.
However, reports suggest that both Meta and YouTube have denied responsibility during the trial, maintaining that their platforms are not inherently addictive and pointing to external factors and existing safety measures as mitigating considerations.
