The jury concluded that Meta, which manages platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and Google, which owns YouTube, created environments that foster addiction, which harmed the mental health of a 20-year-old woman known as Kaylee.
She was awarded $6 million in compensation, which may impact many other similar cases currently being considered in U.S. courts.
Both companies, Meta and Google, expressed their disagreement with the ruling and plan to appeal.
A Meta representative noted that the issue of adolescent mental health is extremely complex and cannot be linked to a specific application, adding that the company intends to defend its position, as each case is unique.
A Google representative also commented: “YouTube was created as a responsible platform for streaming content, not as a social network.”
Ellen Room, who herself sued TikTok after the tragic death of her son, told BBC Breakfast that this is the moment when she says, “I've had enough.” She questioned how many more children would suffer due to the operations of such platforms and emphasized that the situation requires change.
"Malice, harassment, or deception"
The jury ruled that Kaylee should receive $3 million in compensation and $3 million in punitive damages, as they concluded that Meta and Google acted with intent to cause harm and fraud in managing their platforms.
It is expected that Meta will cover 70% of the amount, while Google will cover the remaining 30%.
On the day the verdict was announced, parents of other children who also claim to have been harmed by social media were present outside the courthouse, supporting Kaylee in her fight.
This verdict was announced shortly after a similar ruling was made in New Mexico, where Meta was found guilty of putting children at risk by providing them access to inappropriate content.
Mike Proulx, an expert from the consulting firm Forrester, noted that these rulings highlight a “critical point” in the relationship between social media companies and society.
At the same time, several countries, such as Australia, have begun to impose restrictions on children's use of social media. In the UK, trials are being conducted to explore the possibility of banning social media use for youth under 16.
“Negative sentiment towards social media has been building for years, and it has finally erupted into open conflict,” Proulx added.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commented that the current state of affairs is “unsatisfactory” and requires additional measures to protect children.
"The question is how much and what we are going to do?”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are actively campaigning against the harm caused by social media, described this ruling as “a reckoning.” “This should be a moment when the safety of our children takes precedence over profit,” they added.
Ian Russell, an internet safety activist whose daughter took her own life in 2017 after viewing harmful content, expressed hope that this would be an important moment requiring changes in technology if governments take steps to address the issue.
Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Meta, referenced the company's policy prohibiting the use of its platforms by individuals under 13 in his testimony. However, when presented with evidence that Meta was aware of children using its platforms, he stated that he would like to see faster progress in addressing this issue.
Although Google was also a defendant in this case, most of the attention was focused on Instagram and Meta. Initially, Snap and TikTok were also named in the lawsuit, but they reached settlements with Kaylee before the trial began.
Kaylee's lawyers argued that Meta and YouTube created “addictive machines” and failed to fulfill their duty to prevent children from accessing their platforms.
Kaylee shared that she started using Instagram at the age of nine and YouTube at six, without encountering attempts to restrict access by age. She emphasized that her addiction to social media led to deteriorating relationships with her family and the onset of anxiety and depression at the age of 10.
Kaylee also noted that she became obsessively focused on her appearance, using Instagram filters that altered her looks, and ultimately was diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder.
The lawyers emphasized that Instagram features, such as infinite scrolling, were designed to create addiction, and that Meta sought to attract youth who were likely to stay on its platforms longer.
When Kaylee's lawyers mentioned that her longest period of using Instagram was 16 hours, Instagram head Adam Mosseri dismissed this as evidence of addiction, labeling such behavior as “problematic.”
Kaylee's lawyers stated that the jury's verdict “sends a clear message that no company can evade responsibility when it comes to our children.”
In June, a federal court in California will begin hearing another case against Meta and other social networks for allegedly harming children.
