US court denies Meta and Google's request for new trial on social media addiction

Meta and Google logos.
AP/Reuters
A California state judge denied requests from Meta and Google's YouTube for a new trial after a popular jury concluded that the platforms created addictive products for young people.
Judge Carolyn Kuhl, of the Los Angeles Superior Court, made the decision on Tuesday (09), reported the Reuters news agency. The order formalizing the decision and explaining the reasons was not yet available.
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The popular jury, concluded in March this year, considered that the companies were responsible for contributing to a mental health crisis among teenagers through Instagram and YouTube.
The case took place in Los Angeles, and the jury ordered Meta to pay damages of US$ 4.2 million and Google, US$ 1.8 million
The tendency is for the verdict to set a precedent for new lawsuits about the alleged damage to the mental health of children and adolescents caused by social networks. platforms are still underage, because of the applications' features, which encourage continuous use. She claims that intensive use worsened her depression and led to suicidal thoughts. Therefore, he called for companies to be held accountable.
"We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options," a Meta spokesperson told Reuters after the decision was announced. Google's lawyer, José Castañeda, said he plans to appeal.
The result could influence thousands of similar cases against technology companies, filed by parents, attorneys general and school districts. At least half of American teenagers use YouTube or Instagram daily, according to the Pew Research Center.
Snapchat and TikTok were also defendants in the lawsuit. Both reached an agreement with the author before the trial began. The terms were not disclosed.
Podcast episode The Subject explains the judgment of big techs and the responsibility of the algorithm. LISTEN:
Increasing criticism
Over the past 10 years, major U.S. technology companies have faced increasing criticism over the safety of children and teens.
The debate has now reached the courts and state governments. The US Congress, however, has not passed comprehensive legislation to regulate social media.
At least 20 American states passed laws last year on the use of social media by children, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a nonpartisan organization that monitors state legislation.
The laws include rules on the use of cell phones in schools and require users to prove their age to open social media accounts. NetChoice, an association backed by companies like Meta and Google, is trying to overturn age verification requirements in court.
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Another social media addiction case, brought by states and school districts against technology companies, is expected to go to trial later this year in federal court in Oakland, California.
Another state trial is scheduled to begin in July in Los Angeles, said Matthew Bergman, one of the lawyers who lead the cases. The case will involve Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.
In another case, a New Mexico jury on Tuesday found that Meta violated state law in a lawsuit brought by the attorney general. The accusation is that the company misled users about the security of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and allowed child sexual exploitation on these platforms.

Source: G1