Meta and YouTube found liable on all charges in landmark social media addiction trial

[frigidweirdo]

Well now, this is a game-changer, if it holds up.
"The internet made me do it" may end up a valid legal defense?

If a teen girl is bullied into suicide--and it happens all too often---is the platform liable for the death?

What about teen-gamers hooked on WoW...or Call of Duty?

This is Pandora's box..for streaming platforms.

Meta and YouTube found liable on all charges in landmark social media addiction trial

The verdict, which caps a weeks-long trial in Los Angeles, could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.

www.cbsnews.com

A jury on Wednesday found that Meta and YouTube are liable for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behavior by young users, a landmark decision that could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.

The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages to the lead plaintiff in the case, a woman named Kaley. Identified in court filings by her initials "KGM," she alleged that using YouTube and Instagram from a young age led to addictive use of the platforms and contributed to her mental health problems, including depression, body dysmorphia and suicidal thoughts.

Jurors ruled that Meta and YouTube were negligent in designing and operating their platforms, factors that resulted in harm to the plaintiff. The jurors also found that the companies were aware that their platforms could have adverse effects on minors but failed to adequately warn users. Meta bears 70% of the responsibility, while YouTube shoulders 30%, the jury ruled.

Jurors also decided the companies acted with "malice, oppression or fraud," accounting for the $3 million award in punitive damages. Of that amount, Meta will be responsible for paying $2.1 million, and YouTube must pay $900,000.

It's a difficult one, but with Meta, **** them, their platform is awful, it doesn't live in the real world.

If you allow everyone to post, you need to have control of this. China does. It forces people to control their content, and if not, they're pubished.

Which raises the question: Where is the US govt? Surely they should be regulating things.

 

[Muhammed]

Just like Smoking...the adverse effect of social media addiction, especially in minors...and most especially in teen girls--has been known by these companies for a long time now, yet still they marketed this. product, social media....aimed specifically at that demographic.

Parents??

Most parents just give up the battle of social media around 12 or so.

Given that I think social media is one of societies biggest threats..along with AI---I say let's empty their pocket..and force changes.

That's because you are an authoritarian asshole. A real piece of shit.

 

[Seymour Flops]

NPR had as a guest the purported inventer/designer of the Firefox browser. He claimed that he invented "infinite scrolling" meaning that on social media, you keep scrolling down and you keep getting more content. This he claimed was addictive even to himself.

He helped himself by programing his own browser for "friction" as he was scrolling, and claimed that is a good way to give people's brains a chance to "catch up."

He may have something there, or he may be a hasbeen looking for another fifteen minutes. What do I know? I will note that we do not have infinite scrolling here and there obviously plenty of people addicted.

I'm just throwing it out there.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Which raises the question: Where is the US govt? Surely they should be regulating things.

Oh yes.

When they announce "We're from the government and we're here to help!" we can all sleep soundly.