Meta and YouTube found negligent in landmark social media addiction trial
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Zuckerberg on Feb. 19. Photo: Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images
A jury on Wednesday found Big Tech giants Meta and YouTube negligent in a landmark social media trial, awarding $3 million in compensation to a woman who argued the companies were to blame for her social media addiction.
Why it matters: It is rare that social media giants are found liable for any harms people may face using their platforms, and the verdict in the Los Angeles trial could lead to more court losses, more lawsuits and potentially online safety legislation.
What they're saying: "This verdict sends an unmistakable message that no company is above accountability when it comes to our children," the plaintiffs' counsel said in a statement.
- "Top tech executives took the stand, and their own internal documents were put before a jury, revealing that company leadership knew their platforms were hurting kids and repeatedly chose profits over children's safety," they said.
- A Meta spokesperson said that "we respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options."
Catch up quick: Meta and Google's YouTube were the remaining defendants in the bellwether case, which involved a woman from California identified in court documents as K.G.M.
- K.G.M., also known as Kaley, started using YouTube when she was six and Instagram around age nine. She said that social media addiction led to depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia.
- TikTok and Snap previously settled.
- The plaintiffs' core argument was that social media is a product that should be held to product liability standards, not a platform where Section 230 shields company executives from liability for design choices.
- The verdict comes one day after a jury in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $375 million over harms to young users.
Flashback: Zuckerberg testified earlier this year, with lawyers grilling him over past statements about his company's role in child safety and knowledge of alleged harms.
- This was the first time Zuckerberg had faced a jury in a courtroom alongside families who said that Meta's products harmed their children.
Meta president Dina Powell McCormick said Wednesday at Axios' AI+DC Summit that "we respectfully disagree with that decision and we're appealing."
- "But I think back to people, not products — it's something that probably consumes the leadership's time in a massive percentage every single day."
- "It's something that we're going to keep working hard [on], and try to protect young people on our platform," she added.
Our thought bubble: For the majority of the social media era, companies shook off accusations of neglect from those who argued their lack of safeguards cause harm to users of all ages.
- Now, there's court precedent showing that argument may no longer fly, just as AI changes how people use social media in new and sometimes dangerous ways.
What we're watching: Another bellwether social media trial, which is set to begin in June in federal court, puts together nationwide cases from attorneys general, school districts, local governments and families.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include Dina Powell McCormick's comments.
