A landmark ruling in California has found Google and Meta liable for $6 million in damages, with the jury ordering Meta to pay $4.2 million and Google $1.8 million in a lawsuit brought by a 20-year-old woman who claimed she became addicted to YouTube and Instagram as a minor.
The lawsuit accused the social media giants of being legally responsible for the addictive design of their platforms, with features such as infinite scrolling encouraging prolonged engagement. This ruling comes as major US tech companies face increasing scrutiny over child and teen safety, with at least 20 states enacting laws on social media usage and children in 2025, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Social Media Addiction on the Rise
The debate over social media addiction has now moved into courts and state legislatures, with countries around the world restricting or considering limits on social media access for children and teens. In South Africa, parents and lawmakers are also concerned about the impact of social media on young people, with many calling for stricter regulations to protect minors from online harm.
On Tuesday, a jury in New Mexico ordered Meta Platforms to pay $375 million for knowingly harming children’s mental health and concealing evidence of child sexual exploitation. This separate ruling highlights the growing regulatory pressure on Meta Platforms, which has been labeled an “extremist organization” in Russia and targeted by multiple European Union actions, including a €797 million antitrust fine.
Global Response to Social Media Addiction
Countries including Australia, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, the UK, Indonesia, and Malaysia are taking steps to restrict or limit social media access for children and teens. In the US, a separate social media addiction case brought by several states and school districts against major technology companies is expected to go to trial this summer in federal court in Oakland, California.
Some of the key concerns around social media addiction include:
- Infinite scrolling and other features that encourage prolonged engagement
- Personalized algorithms that can aid pedophiles and other malicious actors
- Lack of regulation and oversight of social media companies
- Impact on children’s mental health and well-being
As the debate over social media addiction continues to grow, it is likely that we will see more lawsuits and regulatory actions against social media companies in the coming months and years.
