yahoo news | ‘Big Tech invincibility is over:’ Historic social medial addiction ruling agains...A Los Angeles jury has delivered a landmark verdict finding Meta and Google liable for fueling teen social‑media addiction, awarding the plaintiff—a 20‑year‑old identified only as “KGM”—$3 million in damages. KGM testified that platforms such as Facebook and Instagram wrecked her mental health after she became addicted as a teenager, and the jury concluded that the companies acted with malice or egregious conduct. The decision follows nine days of testimony, including direct statements from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, and it opens a second phase of deliberations on punitive damages that could increase the payout dramatically.The ruling is being hailed by critics as a watershed moment that could dismantle the “legal shield” long enjoyed by Big Tech. Advocates such as Sacha Haworth of the Tech Oversight Project and psychologist Jonathan Haidt liken the verdict to a seismic shift comparable to the tobacco industry’s downfall, arguing that social‑media firms will now be treated like any other industry that knowingly harms children. Lawmakers, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, see the case as a catalyst for the Kids Online Safety Act, legislation aimed at banning targeted advertising to minors and prohibiting data collection without consent. Meanwhile, Meta and Google have each expressed disagreement with the verdict and indicated they will pursue appeals.The Los Angeles decision arrives amid a broader wave of litigation against the two companies, with more than 2,000 pending lawsuits consolidated in a federal multidistrict case and additional state‑level actions slated for June and August. Earlier this month, Meta was fined $375 million in New Mexico for exposing children to online predators, underscoring the mounting legal pressures facing the industry. Legal experts warn that the verdict could open floodgates for further accountability, potentially reshaping how social‑media platforms design and market their products to younger users.Read more: https://nypost.com/2026/03/25/business/historic-social-medial-addiction-ruling-against-meta-google-could-open-legal-floodgates/#losangeles #meta #bigtech #techoversightproject
