How the landmark verdict against Meta and YouTube could hit their businesses

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A Los Angeles jury dealt a blow to social media giants Meta and YouTube this week when it found that the platforms were negligent for designing addictive features that harmed the mental health of a California woman.Both companies plan to appeal, but the ruling has ignited uncertainty around the tech companies’ future and sparked questions about the potential fallout.The seven-week trial kicked off in February, featuring testimony from Meta and YouTube executives.Kaley G.M., a 20-year-old Chico, Calif., woman, sued the platforms in 2023, alleging that using social media at a young age led to her mental health problems such as body dysmorphia and depression.

She also sued TikTok and Santa Monica-based Snap and those companies settled ahead of the trial.California The outcome Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court is potentially precedent-setting for thousands of other pending lawsuits nationwide and could reshape how tech companies are held accountable for children’s harm caused by their products.Lawyers representing the woman argued that the platforms hook in young users with features such as infinite scrolling, autoplaying videos and beauty filters.People use social media to keep up with their friends and family, but teens can also feel inadequate, sad or anxious when they compare themselves to a curated version of other people’s lives online.

They’re also spending a lot of time watching a seemingly endless amount of short videos.A jury determined that Meta was 70% responsible for Kaley’s harms and YouTube was 30% responsible.They awarded her a total of $6 million.

The ruling came shortly after a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for $375 million in damages after the state Atty.Gen.

Raúl Torrez alleged the platform’s features enabled predators and pedophiles to exploit children.“These verdicts mark an unsurprising breaking point.Negative sentiment tow...