A jury has found Meta and Google liable for $3 million in damages on Wednesday, March 25 in a landmark trial over allegations that their popular social media apps, including Instagram and YouTube, are designed to get children addicted.
The Los Angeles case centers on a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley G.M., who said she became addicted to Google's YouTube and Meta's Instagram at a young age.
The jury found Google and Meta were negligent in the design of both apps and failed to warn about their dangers.
"Today’s verdict is a referendum — from a jury, to an entire industry — that accountability has arrived," the plaintiff's lead counsel said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Meta disagrees with the verdict and its lawyers are "evaluating our legal options," a company spokesperson said. Google did not have an immediate comment.
