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

In a landmark decision on Wednesday, a jury in Los Angeles ruled that Meta and YouTube must compensate a young woman with $3 million after she argued that the companies' social media platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive to children. The verdict dictates that Meta will bear the brunt of the penalty, covering 70 percent of the damages, while Google's YouTube will be responsible for the remaining 30 percent. The trial spanned six weeks, during which the jury was presented evidence indicating that both Meta and Google incorporated features such as auto-play, infinite scrolling, and algorithm-driven recommendations to keep young users engaged for extended periods. The plaintiff, identified as K.G.M., testified that her addiction to these platforms resulted in severe mental distress, leading to issues like body dysmorphia, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Each notification she received exacerbated her inability to disconnect from the platforms. During the trial, both companies attempted to shift the focus away from the design of their apps, suggesting that K.G.M.'s mental health struggles were rooted in a tumultuous childhood rather than their products. However, internal documents presented in court revealed candid discussions among Meta employees who acknowledged the addictive nature of their app designs. One employee was quoted saying, "teens can’t switch off from Instagram even if they want to," while another likened social media to an addictive substance. Despite the evidence, Instagram's chief, Adam Mosseri, refrained from admitting that K.G.M. was addicted to their apps, instead labeling her behavior as merely "problematic." Similarly, YouTube's Vice President of Engineering, Cristos Goodrow, contended that YouTube could not be held accountable for her psychological harm, arguing that the platform was not designed to maximize user engagement. Throughout the trial, YouTube emphasized its distinction from traditional social media platforms.