BREAKING: Meta, Google found liable in social media addiction case, $3 million awarded in damages

Meta and Google, the parent companies of Instagram and YouTube, have been found liable of failure to warn and negligence in a case brought forth by a young woman accusing the platforms of not warning users of the dangers associated with using the platforms. She was awarded $3 million in damages by the Los Angeles jury.

The woman, identified as Kaley, or KGM, alleged that she had become addicted to social media apps like Instagram and YouTube as a child. A Meta spokesperson said in a statement following the verdict, "We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options."

Kaley claimed that she had suffered from severe body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts from heavy use of the social media platforms, and alleged that the constant notifications from the platforms made it hard to stop using them. 

Attorneys representing Meta and YouTube alleged that Kaley’s health problems had come from a turbulent childhood and other family issues, and that she used the apps as a way to cope with the trauma. The platforms said they take safety and health concerns seriously and have implemented features that aim to curb potential harms. 

The jury began deliberating on March 13 on the case. Jurors had appeared skeptical as the deliberations went on, asking at one point to see internal Meta documents and review testimony from a defense expert "in regards to her professional integrity; being the only doctor stating social media was not a contributing factor to KGM’s mental health." 

Per the LA Times, attorneys for both Snapchat and TikTok appeared in court to hear the decision. The platforms settled with Kaley for an undisclosed amount outside of court prior to the trial. The Wednesday verdict could play a role in thousands of other pending lawsuits against social media companies, with experts saying the payout in this case will likely set the bar for other cases going forward. A Delaware court recently cleared Meta’s insurers of responsibility for damages from "several thousand lawsuits regarding the harm its platforms allegedly cause children."

The verdict comes less than 24 hours after a separate jury in New Mexico found that Meta failed to protect children from sexual predators on its platforms, and that it misled users. Meta has been ordered to pay $375 million in that case. 

Meta has vowed to appeal to the ruling in that case. “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and will appeal. We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online," a spokesman said in a statement in response to the verdict.