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Landmark Los Angeles Court Rules Meta and YouTube Liable for User's Social Media Addiction, Awards $6 Million in Damages

Crime & justiceCrime
Key Points
  • A Los Angeles court ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman for causing her social media addiction.
  • Meta must pay 70% ($4.2 million) and YouTube 30% ($1.8 million) of the damages for failing to protect the user from addiction.
  • The plaintiff began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine, with the addiction leading to depression, anxiety, and family estrangement.

A Los Angeles court has issued a groundbreaking ruling holding Meta and YouTube responsible for a woman's social media addiction, ordering the tech giants to pay $6 million in damages. The 20-year-old plaintiff, identified as Kaley, began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine, developing an addiction that she testified destroyed her childhood and led to depression and anxiety. According to court documents, Kaley told the jury she stopped spending time with her family because she spent all her time on social media, opening Instagram first thing in the morning and scrolling until bedtime.

The court found both companies failed to protect the user from becoming addicted to their services. 8 million). The woman had also sued TikTok and Snap, but those companies previously reached settlements.

destroyed her childhood and led to depression and anxiety

Kaley, plaintiff

S. jury has established that tech giants can be held liable for causing social media addiction.

she stopped spending time with her family because she spent all her time on social media, opening Instagram first thing in the morning and scrolling until bedtime

Kaley, plaintiff

could have 'global significance'

one expert, legal expert

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