Weakest case against social media succeeds, and lawyers are now circling
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Weakest case against social media succeeds, and lawyers are now circling
Google once had a motto: “Don’t be evil.”
In its reorganization in 2015, the motto was changed to “Do the right thing.”
According to a California jury this week, neither motto stuck.
In a historic verdict against both Google and Meta, a jury found that the companies maliciously designed their social media products to addict children, including the plaintiff, who was known only as Kaley or KGM.
The jury heard testimony of efforts to “target” young users and feed an addiction to social media and YouTube. The jury awarded Kaley $3 million in compensatory damages divided between Meta (70%) and Google (30%). It then awarded another $3 million in punitive damages.
Those damages are nothing to companies worth billions. However, the verdict was like a dinner gong for plaintiffs lawyers. There are already thousands of cases filed against social media companies. That wave is about to become a tsunami. That is particularly the case after companies like TikTok and Snap settled before trial.
Parents around the world shared the victory against Meta
Families are fed up with social media — and this week’s legal double whammy is just the beginning for companies like Meta
California Dem dating San Diego billionaire heiress accused of fudging his Navy service
In addition to this civil verdict, the New Mexico Attorney General secured a $375 million verdict the same week against Meta under the state’s consumer protection laws.
But it will be a very long time before these companies........
