Los Angeles jury rules Meta, YouTube negligent for addictive design targeting youth, orders $6 million

A Los Angeles jury ruled that Meta and YouTube were negligent in the design and operation of their platforms, ordering a total of $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

“A jury of the Los Angeles Superior Court has found Meta and Google liable for fostering addiction to social media among minors and young people, in a case already considered one of the most significant against the tech giants in the United States”

Actualidad Gadget

The compensatory award is $3 million, with Meta responsible for 70% and YouTube for 30%, and the jury also awarded $3 million in punitive damages to be allocated between the two companies (reported as $2.1 million for Meta and $0.9 million for Google in some outlets).

Actualidad Gadget

The verdict has been described by outlets as a historic bellwether that could influence thousands of similar lawsuits against social-media platforms.

Meta and Google each said they disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal.

"Accountability has arrived," Dr. Mary Franks, a law professor, remarked in coverage of the decision.

The Hill (Western Mainstream) quote: 'design features such as recommendation algorithms and auto-play that contributed to K.G.M.'s crippling, mental distress.'

CNN (Western Mainstream) quote: 'the trial centered on platform design features like autoplay and infinite scroll.'

Ars Technica

Le Monde.fr (Western Mainstream) quote: 'features such as infinite scroll and algorithmic recommendations were addicting.'

Dexerto (Western Alternative) quote: 'addiction machines' and features designed to maximize time on the platform.

NPR (Western Mainstream) quote: "The New Mexico verdict ordered Meta to pay $375 million."

“The Los Angeles Superior Court has ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $3 billion to a 20-year-old woman for harming her mental health”

Atlántico

BBC (Western Mainstream) quote: "New Mexico jury also found Meta liable for endangering children by exposing them to dangerous content."

The Washington Post (Western Mainstream) quote: "twin verdicts are signs that legal protections... crack"

Reuters (Local Western) quote: "New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million"

El País (Western Mainstream) quote: "un veredicto en Nuevo México"

CBS News (Western Mainstream) quote: "It will certainly trigger more."

The Hill (Western Mainstream) quote: "could impact hundreds of similar lawsuits"

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Forbes (Western Mainstream) quote: "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal"

Fortune (Western Mainstream) quote: "This is a landmark verdict that could force tech firms to rethink how they defend themselves against safety claims"

Fox Business (Western Mainstream) quote: "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal"

The Atlantic (Western Mainstream) quote: "This verdict could influence thousands of similar cases against social media companies."

“Under state law, this could reach up to $30m”

BBC

CNBC (Western Mainstream) quote: "This could be a 'Big Tobacco' moment" in the context of legal accountability for tech companies.

BBC

BBC (Western Mainstream) quote: "the era of impunity is over" (as context for wider regulatory implications).

The 19th News (Western Mainstream) quote: "bellwether trials"

The Hill (Western Mainstream) quote: "could impact hundreds of similar lawsuits"