According to NBC News and AFP, a compensation trial against Meta and YouTube was held in the first trial court in Los Angeles County, California.
The plaintiff is a 20-year-old woman, Kayleigh G.M., who claims that she has been addicted to SNS for more than a decade and suffered anxiety, depression, and physical disabilities. The plaintiff stressed that the use of SNS is not just an individual choice, but a structural problem designed by a company.
Attorney Mark Lanier, the plaintiff’s legal representative, told the jury, “This is an incident in which two of the wealthiest companies in history planted addiction in children’s brains,” adding, “Google and Meta designed to keep users and induce repeated access.” He criticized, “It is not a coincidence, but an intended design because the more users are addicted, the more profit they make.”
The plaintiff also argued that Meta and YouTube increased the usage time of minors by borrowing psychological techniques used in the tobacco industry or slot machines. It is argued that notifications, recommendation algorithms, and infinite scrolling structures have strengthened addiction.
In response, Meta and YouTube completely deny the allegations. The platform is intended to provide users with beneficial experiences, and it is the responsibility of individuals and families to determine whether they are addicted or not.
In a related development, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to take the stand next week. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri is also expected to appear in court as early as Wednesday.
The lawsuit is considered a leading trial that can gauge the direction of thousands of similar lawsuits filed against big tech companies. Snapchat operators Snap and TikTok were previously listed as defendants and recently avoided trial, reaching a non-disclosure agreement with the plaintiffs.
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
