A jury in Los Angeles has found that Google and Meta are liable to pay $6 million (£4.5 million) in damages to a young woman who sued the tech giants over her childhood addiction to social media.
The 20-year-old woman, known by her initials, KGM, said the attention-grabbing designs of Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram made her addicted to the platforms and harmed her mental health.
Jurors in the case found that both companies were negligent in the design of their respective platforms and failed to warn users about their dangers.
Google and Meta were initially found liable to pay $3 million (£2.24 million) in damages by the jury. But after further deliberations, jurors determined the companies were liable to pay a further $3 million in punitive damages.
Meta was found to be more responsible for harm to KGM. The jury said Meta shouldered 70 per cent of the responsibility while YouTube bore the remaining 30 per cent.
The outcome of the trial is expected to influence a swathe of similar cases making their way through US courts, as well as the UK Government’s ongoing consultation on regulations governing social media use by children.
What does it mean for WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook?
Lawyers for KGM said in a joint statement that the verdict is a “historic moment” for thousands of children and their families.
“But this verdict is bigger than one case,” the statement said.
“For years, social media companies have profited from targeting children while concealing their addictive and dangerous design features.
“Today’s verdict is a referendum – from a jury, to an entire industry – that accountability has arrived.”
The lawsuit is among a group of cases randomly selected as bellwether trials, meaning it could offer a blueprint for how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies proceed.
In California, more than 1,600 plaintiffs – including more than 350 families and 250 school districts – have brought cases against Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snap.
If successful, the cases are expected to reshape the way social media giants design their platforms and warn users of their dangers.
Meta and Google both said that they disagree with the jury verdict in KGM’s case.
“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.
José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, also said the company disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal.
“This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site,” Castañeda said.
TikTok and Snap settled before KGM’s trial began. The details of the settlement have not been made public.
How will this impact the UK?
Government officials believe the ruling demonstrates why ministers have chosen to consult on social media use among young people, specifically looking at addictive functions in the technology.
The consultation, which closes in May, is set to examine what constitutes an appropriate minimum age for children to access social media, as well as how the design and function of platforms could prevent excessive use.
Following KGM’s trial, Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said: “This is a landmark ruling that shows how aggressive and addictive algorithms can damage young people’s mental health and Meta knew about it.
“The ruling will rightly send shockwaves across the tech sector and governments, and highlights how we need to legislate for safer tech that protects young people and their wellbeing.
“In the UK, we have an opportunity with the national conversation to do just that. If the government acts quickly and decisively they can make safety and wellbeing the price for tech firms to pay for doing business in the UK.”
Meanwhile, peers supported a social media ban for under-16s for the second time, in a blow for the Government.
The House of Lords voted 266 to 141 in favour of Conservative former minister Lord Nash’s amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
MPs will be given the opportunity to vote on the amendment when it returns to the Commons.
Commenting on KGM’s case, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “This is a matter for the US courts. However, we remain completely committed to giving children here in the UK the enriching childhoods they deserve.
“That’s why we launched a consultation on bold measures to protect children online, looking at everything from banning social media for under-16s to tackling addictive design features.
“When it comes to children’s safety, nothing is off the table and we will set out our plans in the summer.”
Hence then, the article about two key questions as woman wins 4 5m case proving instagram is addictive was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Two key questions as woman wins £4.5m case proving Instagram is addictive )
Also on site :