In a watershed moment for the tech industry, a California jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for intentionally designing addictive platforms that harmed the mental health of a young user.
The jury ruled that the companies were negligent, failing to warn users of known dangers while prioritizing profit over safety.
The plaintiff, 20-year-old Kaley, was in the courtroom to hear the decision alongside other parents who claim their children were similarly harmed. The jury assigned 70% of the responsibility to Meta and 30% to YouTube for the damages caused.
In addition to compensatory awards, the jurors recommended that Meta pay $2.1 million and YouTube pay $900,000 in punitive damages. Features like infinite scrolling and targeted algorithms were highlighted as tools engineered to “hook” minors, leading Kaley to develop anxiety and body dysmorphia.
While the verdict sets a major legal precedent for hundreds of similar pending cases, both Meta and YouTube have officially announced their intentions to appeal the decision, defending their platform safety measures.(CNN)
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