Meta, YouTube must pay $3M to woman who got hooked on apps as a child

On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $3 million in damages to a young woman who successfully argued that the companies’ social media apps were designed to addict children.

Meta will pay the majority of the fine, 70 percent, while YouTube-owner Google is on the hook for 30 percent, the jury decided.

During the six-week trial, the jury heard that Meta and Google designed apps with features like auto-play, infinite scroll, and algorithmic recommendations to keep kids online. Feeling trapped in a cycle of constantly using these apps caused the plaintiff, known as K.G.M., “crippling mental distress,” CNBC reported. She developed “severe body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts,” and every notification that came through made it harder to stop logging in.

At the trial, Meta and Google tried to deflect from the role that apps played in K.G.M.’s mental decline, arguing that she used the apps to cope with mental health problems that “stemmed from a turbulent childhood and related family issues,” CNBC reported.

Internal documents revealed to the jury showed that Meta’s employees openly discussed how addictive design features were, bragging that “teens can’t switch off from Instagram even if they want to.” One employee even declared, “oh my gosh yall IG is a drug,” while likening all social media platforms to “pushers.”

However, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri declined to acknowledge on the stand that K.G.M. had become addicted to Meta apps, instead suggesting that her usage was merely “problematic.”

Along similar lines, YouTube Vice President of Engineering Cristos Goodrow argued that YouTube could not be liable for her harms because it was “not designed to maximize time.” The platform also maintained throughout the trial that it is not a social media site.

While the fine seems minimal—particularly compared to the $375 million fine a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay yesterday for failing to prevent child exploitation on its apps—the social media giants could soon face an avalanche of financial penalties due to the verdict.

In the next phase of the trial, punitive damages will be decided. And because this case was chosen as a bellwether to help determine verdicts in thousands of other similar personal injury lawsuits waiting to be heard, even more penalties could be looming on the horizon. Notably, both Meta and Google also face a federal trial brought by states and school districts that starts this summer, The New York Times reported.

In a statement to the NYT, attorneys representing the L.A. plaintiff, who is now 20 years old but told the jury that she became addicted to social media as a child, celebrated the win.

“Today’s verdict is a historic moment—for Kaley and for the thousands of children and families who have been waiting for this day,” attorneys said. “She showed extraordinary courage bringing this case and telling her story in open court. A jury of Kaley’s peers heard the evidence, heard what Meta and YouTube knew and when they knew it, and held them accountable for their conduct.”

It may give tech giants some hope that the jury verdict was not unanimous. Following the loss, Google’s spokesperson, Jose Castañeda, told Ars that the company will appeal.

“We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal,” Castañeda said. “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”

Meta, however, which quickly announced it would appeal the New Mexico verdict, told Ars that the company has not yet decided on next steps.

“We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options,” Meta’s spokesperson said.