A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Alphabet’s Google and Meta liable for $6m in damages in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit, a ruling that could influence thousands of similar cases.
The verdict, delivered on 25 March, is expected to shape claims against major technology firms, with at least half of U.S. teenagers using YouTube or Instagram daily, according to the Pew Research Center.
The jury found Meta liable for $4.2m in damages and Google for $1.8m.
The case centred on a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to the platforms at a young age due to their attention-grabbing design. Plaintiffs focused on platform design rather than content, making it more difficult for the companies to avoid liability.
Snap and TikTok were also named as defendants but reached settlements with the plaintiff before the trial began. The terms were not disclosed.
Shares in Meta Platforms rose about 1%, while Alphabet edged slightly higher following the verdict, indicating limited market reaction.
A Meta spokesperson said: “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options.” Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Large technology companies in the U.S. have faced growing criticism over the past decade regarding the safety of children and teenagers online. The debate has increasingly shifted to courts and state governments, as the U.S. Congress has yet to pass comprehensive legislation regulating social media.
At least 20 states enacted laws last year addressing children’s use of social media, according to the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures, which tracks such measures.
These laws include restrictions on mobile phone use in schools and requirements for users to verify their age before opening social media accounts. NetChoice, a trade association backed by companies including Meta and Google, is challenging age-verification rules in court.
A separate social media addiction case brought by several states and school districts is expected to go to trial this summer in federal court in Oakland, California.
Another trial is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in July, according to Matthew Bergman, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs. It will involve Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.
Separately, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday found that Meta had violated state law in a case brought by the state’s attorney general, who accused the company of misleading users about the safety of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and of enabling child sexual exploitation on its platforms.
The United States launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Tehran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, while tensions remain high in th...
Iran's space programme is advancing with new communications, radar and Earth observation satellites despite conflict and sanctions, the head of the Ir...
Uzbekistan and Italy's Tuscany region have agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education and culture following talks between President ...
Following major layoffs in May, when Meta Platforms cut 10 per cent of its global workforce, 26 former employees have filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of using AI-powered software that unfairly targeted people with disabilities and those who took medical or family leave.
France's competition authority has ordered Meta to return to negotiations with French publishers and present a payment proposal within 15 days after a dispute over unpaid fees for the use of news content on its platforms.
Governments are tightening restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media amid growing concerns over mental health, online safety and platform design, but questions remain over enforcement and whether bans can meaningfully change behaviour.
A U.S. federal judge has rejected Meta Platforms’ attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general, clearing the way for claims that the company designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and concealed risks from the public.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
More than 10.7 million women and girls in Afghanistan need humanitarian assistance in 2026 as funding cuts, restrictions and shortages of female health workers place maternal services under growing pressure, the United Nations says.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday as Türkiye stepped up efforts to revive stalled peace negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia.
Andy Burnham has been elected leader of Britain's governing Labour Party, clearing the way to become the country's next prime minister on Monday. The 56-year-old pledged to spread power beyond Westminster, revive neglected communities and counter the rise of Reform UK.
Japan's parliament has approved changes to the Imperial House Law aimed at addressing the shrinking size of the imperial family while preserving the country's centuries-old male-only succession system.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment