A jury in the United States found, this Wednesday (25), YouTube and Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) negligent in a process that analyzed whether the design of their applications is addictive.
When found negligent, Meta and YouTube will have to pay US$3 million in compensation for pain, suffering and other financial damages. Meta will pay 70% of the value, while YouTube will pay the remaining 30%.
The companies were sued by a young user whose identity was not revealed. She claimed that the platforms are designed to generate addiction as serious as cigarettes and casinos, and that this has led to mental health problems.
Among the points highlighted by the young woman, now 20 years old, are the “infinite feeds” and personalized recommendations from the algorithms. These factors, according to her, caused anxiety and depression.
The thesis was accepted by a jury made up of seven women and five men, which will also analyze whether companies should also be punished for malice or fraud.
TikTok and Snap (owner of Snapchat) were also sued, but reached a settlement with the plaintiff before the trial began, under terms that were not revealed.
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The decision sets a precedent for other users to try to hold technology companies accountable. Currently, thousands of personal injury lawsuits are already being processed in the USA against social media controllers, in processes inspired by cases filed against the tobacco industry in the 20th century.
