US juries hold Meta and YouTube liable for harm to children, signalling legal shift

In a landmark legal development, Meta has suffered two consecutive defeats in US courts over claims that its platforms harm children. A New Mexico jury ordered the company to pay $375 million in damages for enabling child sexual exploitation, while a California jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million for designing addictive features that targeted young users. Both verdicts reflect a growing public and judicial scrutiny of social media companies’ practices. Jurors in California found evidence of malice, oppression, and fraud, with a 10-2 vote favouring the plaintiffs, highlighting serious concerns over the industry’s approach to youth engagement. The cases relied heavily on internal documents revealing that both companies were aware of the risks their platforms posed to minors. Experts liken these lawsuits to those against tobacco companies in the 1990s, which led to significant public health reforms. The outcomes are expected to influence dozens of additional trials, including more than 20 “bellwether” cases and federal lawsuits with hundreds of plaintiffs. Advocates aim to compel tech companies to redesign products to better protect children online, arguing that sustained litigation may prove more effective than voluntary reform. These rulings represent a potential turning point in how social media platforms are held accountable for their role in children’s mental health and online safety.