Displaying items by tag: Meta

In a landmark decision, a Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive features which harmed a young user. The plaintiff, identified as KGM, testified that prolonged use from early childhood contributed to depression, self-harm, and diagnosed mental health conditions. Jurors concluded the companies were negligent and failed to provide adequate warnings, awarding $6m in damages. The case drew comparisons to past litigation against tobacco firms, focusing on product design and knowledge of harm. Both companies deny wrongdoing and plan to appeal, arguing that mental health issues are complex. This trial is the first in a consolidated group of cases brought in California against Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snap on behalf of more than 1,600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and 250 school districts. TikTok and Snap settled the KGM lawsuit just before the trial began. See also

A major court case has just begun, designed to examine whether social media platforms are intentionally designed to keep children engaged in harmful ways. A young woman, ‘Kaley’, alleges that after she began using Meta and WhatsApp as a child, she developed anxiety, distorted body image, and suicidal thoughts after prolonged exposure. Company leaders argue they implemented safety measures and relied on research showing mixed evidence about mental health harm. Parents, however, say their children were exploited through addictive features and inadequate age protections. The trial, which started by cross-examining Mark Zuckerberg, might influence hundreds of similar cases and could force changes to how social media platforms operate. The debate raises broader concerns about technology, profit, responsibility, and the wellbeing of young people growing up online.

The EU has fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), its first enforcement action against Big Tech under the new law. Apple was penalised for limiting access to alternative apps, while Meta’s ‘consent or pay’ model for data usage was deemed to offer users inadequate choice. Both firms have reacted angrily, with Apple accusing the EU of endangering user privacy, and Meta claiming it is being unfairly targeted compared to European and Chinese companies. Though these are relatively small fines for these tech giants, the move signals the EU’s intent to hold even powerful firms accountable. Experts see the ruling as a test of sovereignty in digital regulation, but US firms argue that the EU is unfairly shaping their business models. US-EU tensions are mounting, especially after Donald Trump’s recent tariffs on European goods. The UK and other nations are launching parallel investigations into monopolistic practices.