A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday held Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube liable for harms caused by addictive social media features, marking a landmark ruling in a major social media addiction case focused on children’s mental health and online safety.
Advocates Hail Verdict as ‘Big Tobacco Moment’
Parents, child safety experts, and lawmakers called the verdict a long-overdue step toward accountability.
“For the parents whose children died as a result of social media harms, today’s verdict in this social media addiction case is a huge step toward truth, justice, and accountability,” said Sarah Gardner, CEO of Heat Initiative, a nonprofit focused on tech oversight.
Gardner added, “The ruling is social media’s Big Tobacco moment, the harm these companies intentionally cause children has been proven in a court of law.”
Biden-era Federal Trade Commission commissioner Alvaro Bedoya praised the jury, writing on X that “a jury of regular people has managed to do what Congress and even state legislatures have not: Hold Meta and Google accountable for addicting young people to their products.”
Companies Promise Appeals, Defend Safety Measures
Both Meta and Google said they will appeal the ruling in the social media addiction case and dispute claims that their platforms are responsible for teen mental health issues.
“Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app,” Meta said. “We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously and remain confident in our record of protecting teens online.”
Google spokesperson José Castañeda said, “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”
The trial focused on the plaintiff, identified as Kaley or KGM, who alleged compulsive platform use caused anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts.
Lawmakers and Experts Urge Broader Reforms
Experts and legislators say the verdict in this social media addiction case should accelerate legal and regulatory action on child online safety.
Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, said, “We are in a new world: a new era in the fight to protect children from online harms. This is just the beginning. Thousands of cases will follow.”
Parents for Safe Online Spaces, an advocacy group, called the decision a “rare and momentous win,” urging Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to implement safeguards for minors.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, said the ruling in the social media addiction case should push the legislation forward. “Now that Big Tech has been found liable for the harms they have pushed on our kids, it’s time for Congress to enshrine protections for American families into law,” she said.
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey echoed the sentiment: “Big Tech’s Big Tobacco moment has arrived. We cannot rely on the courthouse alone — Congress must impose real guardrails on these platforms.”
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