Meta and Google found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
Summary
A Los Angeles jury found Meta 70% responsible and Google/YouTube 30% to blame for a plaintiff's alleged social media addiction harms, a verdict that could influence similar cases. The trial centered on Instagram and raised questions about platform design, child safety, and internal research, with Meta defending its practices and Zuckerberg testifying about under-13 policies. The outcome has potential implications for AI-driven recommendation systems and regulatory risk for large tech platforms.