Meta and YouTube ordered to pay $6 million over teen mental health harm

Meta and Google have been ordered to pay $6 million in damages over harm to a teenager’s mental health, according to Variety.

The lawsuit was filed by a 20-year-old woman who said she developed a severe addiction after joining Instagram and YouTube during her school years. She claimed that excessive use of the platforms led her to abandon hobbies and contributed to depression, anxiety, and body image issues.

The jury ruled that the platforms’ design posed risks to mental health. The court awarded $3 million in compensation and an additional $3 million in penalties. Meta will cover 70% of the payout, while Google will pay the remaining 30%.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified in court, defending their products. Mosseri stated that he does not believe social media addiction is possible. Meta’s legal team has already announced plans to appeal the decision.

TikTok and Snapchat previously settled similar claims before trial. In a separate case, a New Mexico court earlier ordered Meta to pay $375 million over allegations related to misleading claims about child safety.