A California court has made a decision that could change the way social media works. The court found Meta and YouTube liable in a landmark case, arguing that their platforms were designed in a way that could lead to addiction and deterioration of the mental health of young users.
According to the ruling, both companies were found to be negligent in the way they designed their services. The court concluded that they were aware of the potential risks associated with intensive use of the platforms, but failed to adequately warn users of these consequences, causing the plaintiff significant damages.
The case involves a young woman named Kaylee, now 20, who, along with her mother, sued several major social media platforms, claiming that their algorithms systematically 'lure' her to spend more time on her phone from a young age and contributed to the development of anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Snapchat and TikTok were also involved in the legal process , but the two companies reached a settlement before the trial began.
The trial in Los Angeles Superior Court lasted seven weeks, with the court taking more than eight days to review the evidence and reach a decision. In the end, it was decided that Meta would be liable for 70% of the damages and YouTube for 30%. Both companies were ordered to pay about $3 million in damages, while the court may also impose additional punitive damages at a later stage.
The decision is expected to set an important precedent, as hundreds of similar cases are being considered in the courts and are related to the impact of social media on minors. However, both companies have reacted by opposing the decision: Meta stated that it is considering legal options, while YouTube 's parent company , Google , announced that it plans to appeal the decision, emphasizing that its platform is designed for content distribution and not as a social network in the traditional sense.
