Teen Won $6M From Meta Over Social Media Addiction
Source: Bloomberg (paywall)
This is the first major jury verdict establishing platform liability for addictive design targeting minors. It extends beyond Section 230 immunity and forces Meta to defend its engagement algorithms in court rather than dismiss claims on procedural grounds. The $6M award shows juries are willing to assign monetary damages for psychological harm from intentional product design—a calculation that transforms social media liability from regulatory risk into a quantifiable litigation cost. Plaintiff attorneys will likely pursue similar cases across state jurisdictions. The verdict's significance lies not in the dollar amount but in the jury's willingness to name a specific person (Kaley Glenn-Mills) harmed by specific features, breaking the abstraction that has protected platforms from individual damage claims.