Historic court decisions signal a new era of legal accountability for social media giants over children’s mental health.
LOS ANGELES: A Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million to a young woman, identified as Kaley, who sued Meta and Google, alleging social media addiction severely harmed her mental health. Kaley testified she began using Instagram at age nine and YouTube at six, sometimes spending up to 16 hours daily online, which led to anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia.
The jury found both companies deliberately designed addictive features, including Instagram’s infinite scroll, and failed to safeguard minors. Meta will pay 70% of the damages, with Google responsible for the remainder. Both companies plan to appeal, claiming teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single platform.
The ruling follows a separate New Mexico case where a state jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for violating laws protecting children online. That 2023 lawsuit, led by Attorney General Raúl Torrez, was sparked by an undercover operation using a 13-year-old fake profile that attracted predators. The jury found Meta prioritized profit over child safety, citing internal company documents.
Experts say these consecutive verdicts mark a turning point in tech accountability, drawing comparisons to Big Tobacco lawsuits of the 1990s. Parents and advocacy groups celebrated the LA verdict as a landmark moment for minors’ online safety.
About The Author
