Arabic version: ميتا ويوتيوب يتحملان المسؤولية في قضية إدمان رائدة

A Los Angeles jury has handed down an unprecedented win for a young woman who sued Meta and YouTube over her childhood addiction to social media. The plaintiff, known as Kaley, was awarded $3 million after jurors determined that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, and Google, the owner of YouTube, had intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed her mental health. According to BBC News, the jury attributed 70% of Kaley’s harm to Meta and 30% to YouTube, meaning Meta will cover the majority of the awarded damages.

The trial, which lasted five weeks, drew attention from parents of other children claiming similar harms from social media usage. Many were present to hear the verdict and celebrated outside the courthouse once it was announced. This ruling is expected to influence numerous similar cases currently making their way through the U.S. legal system, with another significant case against Meta set to begin in June in California federal court.

Kaley’s legal team argued that the features of Instagram and YouTube were designed to create addictive experiences, leading to negative mental health outcomes. Kaley reported beginning her use of Instagram at age nine and YouTube at age six, experiencing no age-related barriers. She testified that her social media usage contributed to her feelings of anxiety and depression, which were diagnosed later in life. Her lawyers described the platforms as “addiction machines” that failed to protect children.

Meta has expressed disagreement with the verdict, stating it is evaluating its legal options. The case highlights a growing public sentiment against social media companies, as evidenced by a recent verdict in New Mexico that also found Meta liable for endangering children on its platforms. Experts suggest that these rulings could mark a significant turning point in the accountability of social media companies regarding their impact on youth.