Families of social media victims gathered on Wednesday to celebrate a significant court ruling that concluded that the platforms operated by Meta and Google were intentionally designed to foster addiction. However, they emphasized that their fight is far from over.
With visible emotion, the parents stood outside the courthouse, holding heartwarming photos of their children. Some of these children lost their lives due to the dangerous features of these platforms, which lack adequate protections for young users. Notably, these families aren’t actually involved in the current lawsuit.
“This is just the beginning. We understand it’s a long road ahead,” stated Julianna Arnold, whose 17-year-old daughter, Coco, tragically died from fentanyl poisoning in 2022 after attempting to buy drugs through social media.
Arnold expressed frustration, saying, “We don’t want more hearings or loopholes in any new bills. Lawmakers need to stop protecting Big Tech and start prioritizing the safety of American families.”
The families were present to represent a national coalition focused on social media victims impacted by sextortion, perilous viral challenges, and predatory behavior. Many victims were aged between 12 and 15.
“This feels like a win, and we’re grateful,” remarked Victoria Hincks. “But it needs to be paired with the right legislation.”
Hincks shared the heartbreaking story of her 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, who took her own life in 2024 after being bombarded with altered “beauty” content that skewed her reality.
“Platforms must have a responsibility towards their users,” Hincks insisted.
“They require transparency and accountability. They can no longer deny their influence,” she added fervently.
A mother from New York spoke about her son, who tragically took his life after falling victim to a sextortion scam on Facebook. “I hope parents will be more cautious when giving their kids devices,” she urged.
She also reached out to the president, hoping for legislative action.
“I want Congress to take meaningful steps,” Mary Roddy expressed. “I really hope the president doesn’t appoint Mr. Zuckerberg to some mundane tech committee.”
President Trump had recently nominated Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg to a position on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Roddy’s son, Riley, died by suicide in 2021 after facing threats related to personal photos he shared online, according to his family’s statement.
Roddy offered her support to other affected families, saying, “I want to unite the parents of those affected to show that we recognize what happened to our children, and we’re here for you.”
She underlined the need for solidarity, saying, “We don’t have to accept this.”
Commendably, these parents pointed fingers at both themselves and the tech companies.
“It’s time to stop blaming parents. You bear the responsibility, and that’s what we’ve highlighted today,” Hincks remarked about the unprecedented verdict.
A jury in Los Angeles held Meta and Google accountable for triggering anxiety and depression in a young woman who developed a compulsive reliance on their platforms, Instagram and YouTube.
The tech giants were ordered to pay $3 million in compensatory damages, alongside an additional $3 million in punitive damages.
Roddy indicated that although the damages were “adequate” to exhibit “clear negligence,” she worried they wouldn’t compel these companies to improve their practices. “I just hope the consequences are enough to spur genuine change,” she shared with concern.
A lawyer representing the plaintiffs, identified only as Kayleigh, mentioned that this verdict marks a “historic moment” that will have lasting effects.
“If the jury had ruled otherwise, I can imagine celebrations in Google and Meta’s boardrooms,” quipped Mark Lanier, the Texas trial lawyer representing Kayleigh.
Now 20, Kayleigh began using social media at a mere six years old and argued that these platforms are purposely designed to keep children engaged through addictive features like endless scrolling.
She described how notifications of new comments and likes on her posts created an “irresistible” compulsion to stay connected.
Hincks echoed a serious accusation, labeling tech giants as “predators.”
“We’ve learned that they leverage our children for profit, undermining our attempts to protect our families,” she stated firmly. “We can’t overlook this anymore.”
This prominent ruling may inspire numerous similar lawsuits from families, states, and educational institutions against large tech corporations.
A spokesperson for Meta expressed disagreement with the ruling and intended to appeal. “Teen mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to a single app,” stated Ashley Nicole Davis, a spokeswoman for the company. “We are committed to safeguarding youth online.”
Google also announced plans for an appeal, stating, “We believe the court’s decision mischaracterizes YouTube, which is built as a responsible streaming platform.”
