In brief
A jury in Los Angeles has ruled that Instagram and YouTube are addictive and have been negligent in protecting minors, forcing their parent companies, Meta and Google, to pay $6 million in damages. This verdict is seen as a landmark decision that could reshape the future of social media regulation. Experts compare this ruling to the tobacco industry's reckoning, suggesting potential changes in how tech platforms operate and are held accountable for user welfare.
'A game-changing moment for social media' - what next for big tech after landmark addiction verdict?
A jury in LA has delivered a damning verdict for two of the world's most popular digital platforms, Instagram and YouTube. It ruled those apps are addictive, and deliberately engineered that way – and that its owners have been negligent in their safeguarding of the children who have used them. The tech giants in this case, Meta and Google, must now pay $6 million (£4.5 million) in damages to a young woman known as Kaley, the victim at the centre of this case. She claimed the platforms left her with body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Both companies intend to appeal, with Meta maintaining a single app cannot be solely responsible for a teen mental health crisis, while Google asserts YouTube is not a social network. However, the ruling suggests that the era of impunity is over, according to Dr. Mary Franks, a law professor. This court verdict is seen as transformative for the social media landscape.
The day might soon come when social media companies face scrutiny similar to that faced by big tobacco, raising questions about the responsibility such platforms hold over user wellbeing. With ongoing discussions about potential restrictions on youth access to social media, the implications of this case reach far beyond the courtroom, stirring debates within legislatures about child safety online.
Kaley's victory is just one of several cases challenging social media giants this year, indicating a growing acknowledgment of the consequences of platform design choices and a quest for accountability.
