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Addiction · Lawsuit · Negligence · Social Media
Jurors in California found Meta and Google negligently failed to warn users about the addictive nature of their social media platforms, awarding plaintiff Kaley $3 million in damages, with Meta responsible for $2.1 million and YouTube for the remaining $900,000.
The trial centered on features like algorithms, autoplay, and notifications, which Kaley claimed led to severe body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts. This verdict follows a separate New Mexico case where Meta was found liable for enabling child exploitation, resulting in a $375 million fine.
TikTok and Snap previously settled similar lawsuits to avoid trial. Experts compare these cases to the "Big Tobacco" lawsuits of the 1990s, signaling a significant shift in legal accountability for social media companies.
Meta "respectfully disagrees" with the California verdict, while Google has not commented. Meta's Andy Stone reportedly boasted about the low fine amount, indicating the company's focus on financial impact over the finding of harm, though punitive damages are still pending.
Meta, Google Face Addiction Negligence Verdict(current)
