Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports that a Los Angeles court has mandated Meta and Google to pay $6 million in fines for crafting addictive social media apps without alerting users to the potential risks.
- The lawsuit was initiated by a 20-year-old woman who suffered from depression and anxiety due to her addiction to Instagram and YouTube, with Meta bearing $4.2 million of the total fine.
- This significant decision may lead to new requirements for app warnings, although both companies intend to challenge the court’s ruling.
A Los Angeles court has ordered Meta and Google to jointly pay $6 million in fines, with Meta responsible for about $4.2 million of this amount.
The lawsuit was brought by a 20-year-old woman who claimed that addiction to Instagram and YouTube from an early age had adversely affected her life, leading to depression and anxiety, worsened by constant scrolling.
The court determined that Meta and Google intentionally made their apps addictive without providing risk warnings to users. “Today’s verdict is a referendum — from a jury, to an entire industry — that accountability has arrived,” stated the woman’s lawyer in a Reuters report on the court’s decision.
This ruling could potentially require these types of apps to include warnings when users download and install them. However, Meta and Google are not in agreement with the outcome and plan to appeal the decision.
Google, for instance, contended that YouTube, being a video platform, should not be categorized as social media.
Further legal proceedings are underway
Initially, Snapchat and TikTok were also involved in the case, but opted for a settlement before the trial started.
Additional legal actions against these tech giants are ongoing, including issues related to insufficient protections for minors on social media. In one such case, Meta was required to pay $375 million.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and adapted from German.
