Los Angeles jury finds Meta and YouTube liable for user harm

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury has ruled that Meta and YouTube are liable for designing addictive products that negatively impacted a 20-year-old user, identified as KGM or Kaylee. The legal proceedings lasted between six to seven weeks, followed by over eight days of jury deliberations. The court found that both companies acted with negligence and failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the risks of their platforms. The plaintiff reported developing depression, self-harm tendencies, body dysmorphia, and social anxiety starting from age ten due to prolonged exposure to these services. While initial reports cited a $6 million compensation figure, other sources indicated a $3 million award, with Meta assigned 70% liability in some accounts. Similar lawsuits against Snap and TikTok were settled out of court prior to the trial. This decision is viewed as a significant legal precedent for the accountability of social media companies regarding minors. The court may still determine whether additional punitive damages will be imposed.