A Los Angeles jury has delivered a verdict that could have significant implications for the tech industry, ruling that social media platforms Instagram and YouTube are addictive and were deliberately engineered to be so.
The jury ordered Meta and Google, the owners of the platforms, to pay $6m in damages to a young woman known as Kaley, who claimed the platforms left her with body dysmorphia, depression, and suicidal thoughts, according to a report by the BBC.
The case has sparked a global discussion on the impact of social media on mental health, with experts describing the verdict as a "game-changing moment" for the industry.
Police and Authority Response
Both Meta and Google have stated their intention to appeal the verdict, with Meta arguing that a single app cannot be solely responsible for a teen mental health crisis, and Google claiming that YouTube is not a social network.
Dr. Mary Franks, a law professor at George Washington University, said the ruling means "the era of impunity is over" for tech companies, as reported by the BBC.
Investigation and Implications
The verdict could lead to wider challenges against social media companies and other technology systems engineered to maximize engagement at the expense of user wellbeing, according to Dr. Rob Nicholls of the University of Sydney.
The UK and other countries are considering introducing regulations on social media, including banning platforms for children under 16, following a similar move by Australia in December.
The BBC reported that some parents, including bereaved British mum Ellen Roome, are campaigning for changes to social media after experiencing the negative impact of online challenges on their children.
