US jury finds Meta, Google, liable in social media addiction trial

A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Alphabet's Google liable for $6 million in damages in a social media addiction case, marking a rare courtroom victory against the tech giants on the issue of algorithmic design and user harm. The verdict suggests that a jury accepted arguments that the companies' platforms were deliberately engineered to be addictive, particularly for younger users. This is significant because it opens the door to potential copycat litigation and could influence how platforms design engagement features, though the $6 million award is modest relative to the companies' annual revenues. The case reflects growing legal pressure on tech companies over their business models, which rely on user engagement and data collection to drive advertising revenue. Both companies are likely to appeal, and the case may set precedent for future lawsuits alleging social media platforms create psychological dependency.