Meta and YouTube Fined for Intentionally Causing Teenagers to Become Addicted to Social Media
In a decision predicted to transform the technology industry landscape, a jury in California has found Meta and YouTube guilty on a lawsuit filed by a young woman. These tech giants have been deemed negligent and deliberately designed platforms that trigger addiction and damage the mental health of underage users.
The case was triggered by a lawsuit from Kaley, 20, who claims she became trapped in addiction from childhood, suffering from anxiety disorders, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts. After a seven-week trial, the jury ordered the companies to pay total compensation of US$3 million (approximately Rp47 billion).
The jury determined that Meta bears 70% responsibility for Kaley’s damages, while YouTube bears the remaining 30%. In addition to compensatory damages, the jury recommended punitive damages of US$2.1 million for Meta and US$900,000 for YouTube.
In response to the ruling, both companies stated they would appeal. “We respectfully disagree with this decision and will appeal. Teen mental health is extremely complex and cannot be attributed to a single app,” said a Meta spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Google spokesperson José Castañeda stated that the case misunderstands the fundamental nature of their platform. “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”
Kaley’s victory is seen as a historic moment similar to the defeat of the tobacco industry (Big Tobacco) in the past. James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, offered sharp criticism of the tech companies’ practices.
“Social media giants would never face trials if they prioritised children’s safety over user engagement. Instead, they buried their own research showing children were harmed, and used children and society as guinea pigs in a massive, uncontrolled, and highly profitable experiment.”
The trial revealed internal documents showing Meta continued to allow the use of “beauty filters” that manipulate physical appearance, despite warnings from experts and their own employees about the dangers.
Although Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified denying the addictive nature of their platforms, the jury still found them guilty. This decision opens the way for more than 1,500 similar lawsuits awaiting in US courts, potentially costing the companies billions of dollars.