A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman through the addictive design of their social media platforms, ordering the companies to pay $3 million in damages. The jury answered yes to all seven questions on verdict forms for both companies, finding that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design and operation of their platforms and that their negligence was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff.
The plaintiff, known in court documents by her initials K.G.M. and identified as just Kaley at trial, is the central figure in a bellwether case that could determine whether social media companies can be held legally responsible for harming children’s mental health. Kaley began using YouTube at six, downloading the app on her iPod Touch to watch videos about lip gloss and an online kids game. She joined Instagram at nine, getting around a block her mother had put in place to keep her off the platform.
Social Media Addiction on the Rise
According to the World Health Organization, social media addiction is a growing concern, with many children and teenagers spending hours on social media platforms every day. The excessive use of social media has been linked to a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
In closing arguments, plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier cast the case as a story of corporate greed. He argued that features including infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, notifications and like counts were engineered to drive compulsive use among young people. Meta and YouTube had maintained throughout that Kaley’s mental health struggles had nothing to do with their platforms.
What This Means for South Africans
The verdict has significant implications for social media companies operating in South Africa. With the rise of social media addiction in the country, there is a growing need for social media companies to take responsibility for the impact of their platforms on users’ mental health. As the South African government considers new regulations for social media companies, this verdict could be an important precedent.
Here are some key takeaways from the verdict:
- Meta and YouTube were found liable for harming a young woman through the addictive design of their social media platforms.
- The jury ordered the companies to pay $3 million in damages.
- The verdict sets the stage for a separate punitive damages phase.
- The case could determine whether social media companies can be held legally responsible for harming children’s mental health.
