Social media addiction: Meta and YouTube face historic rulings for endangering children

A Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million to a young woman, known as Kaley, who sued Meta and Google over social media addiction that severely impacted her mental health. Kaley testified she began using Instagram at nine and YouTube at six, developing anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia, while sometimes spending up to 16 hours a day on the platforms.

The jury found that both Meta and Google deliberately designed addictive features, such as Instagram’s infinite scroll, and failed to protect minors from harm. Meta will cover 70% of the damages, with Google responsible for the rest. Both companies have announced plans to appeal, arguing that teen mental health is complex and cannot be traced to a single platform.

Meta hit with $375 million child safety verdict in New Mexico

Just a day earlier, a New Mexico state court jury ordered Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to pay $375 million for willfully violating state laws protecting children online. The 2023 lawsuit, filed by New Mexico attorney general Raúl Torrez, followed an undercover operation where a fake profile of a 13-year-old girl drew extensive contact from online predators.

The jury concluded that Meta’s platforms violated the state’s unfair practices act, prioritising profit over safety. Torrez called the verdict “a historic victory for every child and family” and pointed to internal company documents showing executives were aware of the risks. Meta said it would appeal and emphasised that it has implemented safeguards across its apps.

The trial’s next phase, scheduled for May, will determine whether Meta created a public nuisance and should fund programs addressing the harms. Officials are also pushing for app design changes, including stricter age verification and measures to prevent predator activity.

A turning point for tech accountability

These back-to-back rulings signal a growing legal reckoning for social media companies over the safety of minors. Experts have compared the cases to the Big Tobacco trials of the 1990s, citing internal documents showing executives prioritised growth and engagement over user welfare.

Parents and advocacy groups outside the LA courthouse celebrated Kaley’s victory, describing it as a landmark moment for accountability. Similar cases involving Snap, TikTok, and other platforms are underway, testing legal strategies that bypass Section 230 protections by focusing on app design.

Analysts say the rulings could drive systemic changes, including mandatory age verification, stricter safety standards, and limits on addictive features. Globally, countries like Australia have already imposed restrictions on social media use for children, while the UK is piloting bans for under-16s.

Torrez emphasised that New Mexico’s approach could set a national and international precedent, showing that tech giants cannot operate above accountability when it comes to child safety. With additional trials scheduled in California and elsewhere, social media companies may face intensified scrutiny, higher financial penalties, and significant pressure to redesign platforms for younger users.