Let’s go to Kathmandu. A jury in Los Angeles has given a historic verdict in favor of a young woman. The woman accused Meta and YouTube of being addicted to childhood social media.
The jury found that Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, and Google, which owns YouTube, knowingly created social media platforms that could lead to addiction. The jury found it had harmed the mental health of a 20-year-old woman named Kelly.
Kelly was also paid $60. The jury awarded Kelly $3 million in restitution and a $3 million fine. The jury concluded that Meta and Google engaged in “abuse, harassment or fraud” in the way their platforms operated. Under this decision, Meta will have to pay 70 percent of Kelly’s total compensation. Google will have to pay the remaining 30 percent.
The ruling is expected to affect hundreds of similar cases pending in US courts. Meta and Google said in separate statements that they disagreed with the decision and would appeal. “Teenage mental health is a complex issue that can’t be attributed to just one app,” Meta said. ’
“We’re going to continue to defend ourselves. Because each issue is unique. We are absolutely confident in our track record of ensuring the safety of teenagers online.” Meto said.
According to a Google spokesperson, YouTube has been misunderstood on this issue. “YouTube is a responsible video streaming platform, not a social media site,” he said. –Agency
