A U.S. jury has ruled against Meta Platforms and Google in a landmark case over social media’s impact on children. The court awarded damages to a plaintiff who said the platforms harmed her mental health.
The case focused on features on Instagram and YouTube. Lawyers argued that autoplay and infinite scrolling kept children online for long periods. The jury agreed and found both companies negligent. It said they failed to warn users about the risks.
The court assigned a larger share of liability to Meta. Both companies say they will appeal the ruling.
Legal experts say the decision challenges protections under Section 230. The case focused on product design, not user content. This could open a new path for similar lawsuits.
The ruling adds pressure on tech firms to improve child safety. It may lead to stronger controls and clearer warnings. This could also affect emerging markets, including Africa.
The case is expected to shape future regulation of social media platforms.
