Meta and YouTube held accountable for social media addiction in the US

Los Angeles (ANTARA) - A jury in Los Angeles, United States, on Wednesday (25/3), declared that the Meta and Google-owned YouTube platforms are responsible in the “social media addiction” trial. In the case, a woman claimed that her child suffered from depression and anxiety stemming from uncontrolled social media use since childhood. According to local media, the jury decided that both companies were negligent in designing and operating their products, and stated that the companies failed to provide adequate warnings to users about the dangers associated with YouTube and Meta-owned Instagram. The jurors also found that this negligence was a “substantial factor” in causing harm to the plaintiff and awarded compensatory damages of $3 million US dollars (1 US dollar = Rp16,905), with responsibility divided 70 percent for Meta and 30 percent for YouTube. In addition, an additional $3 million US dollars in punitive damages was imposed on the companies, with Meta bearing 70 percent of that amount, according to reports. Both companies indicated disagreement with the ruling and will appeal. “Teenage mental health is very complex and cannot be attributed to a single app,” stated a Meta spokesperson, as quoted by NBC News. Meta also stated that it will continue to defend itself and is confident in its track record of protecting teenagers in the digital world. Meta and Google have long denied that their products are inherently addictive, thus incurring legal liability, arguing that they provide tools for parents and teenagers, publish research on safety, and comply with existing regulations.