tech
Meta settles major social media addiction lawsuit with school district
Kentucky is one of about 1,200 school districts across the US that have each sued Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube
TL;DR
- Meta has settled a lawsuit with a Kentucky school district over claims that its social networks are addictive and harmful to children.
- The settlement occurred less than three weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial.
- Approximately 1,200 school districts nationwide have sued Meta, TikTok, Snap, and YouTube for allegedly contributing to a youth mental health crisis.
- TikTok, Snap, and YouTube had previously settled their suits with Kentucky.
- Breathitt county schools accused the companies of designing addictive products leading to anxiety, depression, and self-harm in students.
- The lawsuit sought over $60 million for student mental health needs and a program to address the issue, as well as changes to platform features.
- Meta faces further legal action from other school districts and individuals.
- Previous trials have resulted in Meta and YouTube being found liable for designing addictive products and paying damages.
- A jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties in New Mexico for misleading consumers about platform safety and enabling harm.
- Plaintiffs' arguments are compared to lawsuits against big tobacco in the 1990s, focusing on addictive qualities and alleged corporate knowledge of harms.
- Features like infinite scroll and autoplay are cited as intentionally addictive design elements.
- The settled case and a similar Los Angeles trial were considered 'bellwether' trials to gauge jury reactions and set legal precedent.