A court in the US found Meta and YouTube guilty of causing mental health harm due to social media addiction

In Los Angeles, a jury handed down an unprecedented verdict finding Meta and YouTube partially liable for the damage to a young woman’s mental health caused by her addiction to social networks. According to the BBC, the plaintiff was awarded compensation in the amount of 3 million dollars.

The trial found that Instagram, Facebook and YouTube platforms were designed to intentionally cause addiction in users. The victim, known as Kaylee, began using social media at the age of six. According to the case file, this led to serious psychological distress: loss of connection with her family, anxiety, depression and the development of dysmorphophobia – a distorted perception of her own appearance, reinforced by the use of filters in the apps.

The court apportioned liability between the corporations as follows: 70% of the blame was placed on Meta and 30% on YouTube. In addition to the main compensation, the amount of additional punitive damages may be determined later and, according to preliminary estimates, may reach 30 million dollars. Representatives of Meta and Google disagreed with the verdict and announced their intention to appeal the decision.

Experts believe that this case will be a turning point in the legal regulation of the activities of technology giants. According to analyst Mike Pru, the negativity accumulated over the years against social platforms has grown into an open legal conflict that could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits pending in the US. The case also emphasizes the growing moral responsibility of companies to protect the inner world and psyche of children in the digital environment.