tech
‘The era of invincibility is over’: the week big tech was brought to heel
Ruling that Meta and YouTube deliberately designed addictive products marks possible watershed moment for social media
TL;DR
- Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive social media products, a case centered on a young user named Kaley.
- The verdicts have been likened to the "big tobacco moment" for the tech industry, sparking hope for regulatory changes.
- Meta was also ordered to pay $375m in a separate New Mexico case concerning misleading consumers about platform safety and child exploitation.
- Governments worldwide are considering or implementing measures to curb social media's grip on children's attention, including bans and restrictions on addictive features.
- The legal focus is shifting towards holding platforms liable for defective design rather than just user-generated content, challenging protections like Section 230.
- Tech companies like Meta and Google have stated their intention to appeal the verdicts, questioning the link between their platforms and teen mental health.
- Campaigners and some lawmakers are calling for fundamental shifts in tech business models and features to ensure product safety for children.