LOS ANGELES — A jury in Los Angeles found Meta (Instagram) and Google’s YouTube negligent in the design or operation of their platforms and awarded the plaintiff $3 million in compensatory damages, according to Reuters, The Associated Press, CBS News, NBC News and ABC News.
Key findings
- Negligence / liability: Jurors found both companies negligent in the design or operation of their platforms and found that negligence was a substantial factor in harming the plaintiff.
- Damages: The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages, assigning 70% of responsibility to Meta and 30% to YouTube.
- Failure to warn: Jurors found both companies liable for failing to adequately warn users about dangers associated with using the platforms.
- Punitive damages: Jurors later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages; the judge has final say on the final award.
Background
The plaintiff, identified in court filings as K.G.M. and called “Kaley” during the trial, testified that she began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9 and that her near-constant use contributed to depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia, according to reporting from Reuters, AP, and other outlets.
TikTok and Snap were originally defendants in the case but settled before the trial began, leaving Meta and YouTube as the remaining defendants.
Image Attribution
Artificial Intelligence generated image / Hedra.com and EOBS.biz