Jury finds Instagram and YouTube liable in landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles

"The jury was presented with evidence that specific design features of social media platforms, such as infinite feeds and autoplay, were intended to hook young users."

"Kaley testified that her early use of social media led to addiction and exacerbated her mental health struggles, stating she was on social media 'all day long' as a child."

"Meta argued that Kaley's mental health issues were separate from her social media use, pointing out that her therapists did not identify social media as a cause."

"The lawsuit is significant as it challenges the legal protections afforded to tech companies under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act."

A jury found Meta and YouTube liable in a lawsuit holding social media platforms accountable for harm to children. The plaintiff, Kaley, began using these platforms at a young age and claimed they contributed to her addiction and mental health issues. Lawyers argued that design features like infinite feeds and autoplay were intended to engage young users. Meta contended that Kaley's mental health struggles were unrelated to social media, citing her home life and therapists' opinions.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles