What Happens Now That Meta and YouTube Have Been Found Guilty of Legal Negligence?
On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for negligence for failing to warn users of the potential dangers associated with their apps and services. Specifically, the jury found that Meta and YouTube “harmed” a young user, 20-year-old KGM, through addictive features that led to his “mental distress.”
Meta and YouTube are now ordered to pay $3 million in damages. Meta will pay the majority (70%, or $2.1 million), while YouTube will pay the remaining 30% ($900,000). This is a landmark case that could have far-reaching implications for all social media platforms.
What was the Meta/YouTube social media case about?
KGM’s lawsuit accused Meta and YouTube of acting like tobacco companies or digital casinos, creating addictive products that lead to anxiety and depression in users. Instead of selling cigarettes or gambling, Meta and YouTube offer endlessly scrolling content, with recommendations generated by intelligent algorithms that know what will interest users. Snap (the creators of Snapchat) and TikTok were also named in the lawsuit, but settled for an undisclosed amount before trial.
The case began in January, and the jury began deliberating on Friday, March 13. And that’s not the end of it: although the jury has determined the initial compensation amount, they will now decide on punitive damages for malicious intent or fraud, which could be significantly higher.
Tech companies are facing a growing number of lawsuits related to social media.
The KGM case is far from the only one facing social media companies. According to The New York Times , thousands of lawsuits filed by teenagers, school districts, and state attorneys general are currently pending against companies like Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap. Meta was previously found liable in New Mexico for failing to protect users from pedophiles; in that case, a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in damages. This is an encouraging development for plaintiffs, as social media companies were previously thought to be legally immune in such cases, assuming the companies themselves were not responsible for how people used the platform.
A Meta spokesperson told the Times: “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options,” while YouTube did not respond to a request for comment.
Where will social media companies go next?
There are still many trials ahead, and the verdicts are still fresh in our minds. All of this takes time: KGM filed its lawsuit back in 2023, so we could be following many more lawsuits for years to come. But these initial results could be a harbinger of future cases, indicating that social media companies may have to radically redesign their platforms or risk legal consequences.
In the KGM case, lawyers presented evidence that Meta and YouTube executives were aware of the harm their platforms were causing to minors. This is far from a secret: social media companies, including Meta, were known to be well aware of the impact their platforms had on children —they simply prioritized profit and growth over limiting potential harm. Now that these cases are being decided in favor of the plaintiffs, they may face greater public condemnation.
The key question is whether the impact of such lawsuits will be enough to force Meta and companies like it to change course, or whether they will find their current models more profitable, even given the financial risks involved. I find it difficult to believe that Meta will fundamentally change its platform unless the court rulings are significantly harsher. The fines would have to be so large as to eclipse the profits the company generates by maintaining the status quo. Otherwise, why would Meta or YouTube change their operating methods?
To be fair, in recent years, companies have begun implementing more control mechanisms for parents and more restrictions for underage users . But it’s difficult to take child protection efforts seriously when, for example, we know that Meta was completely comfortable with its AI flirting with minors .