[Jem Smith]

A 20 year old woman brought a case against Meta and Google about social media being addictive and bad for her metal health. She won and was awarded millions of dollars in damages.

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/meta-and-google-found-liable/106500988

[Angie10]

Fantastic! I heard about the case and was surprised to see Zuckerberg recently hauled before an oversight committee to answer very 'difficult' questions about his social media platforms' responsibility towards child safety. I thought being pally with Trump would protect him. And it sounds like it's just case after case, some of which lead to HUGE losses. I read about yet another one where Meta was found guilty of violating laws and had to pay $375-million for having misled users on user and child safety. They might evade paying tax, but they're losing big at the courthouse!

[Jem Smith]

Fantastic! I heard about the case and was surprised to see Zuckerberg recently hauled before an oversight committee to answer very 'difficult' questions about his social media platforms' responsibility towards child safety. I thought being pally with Trump would protect him. And it sounds like it's just case after case, some of which lead to HUGE losses. I read about yet another one where Meta was found guilty of violating laws and had to pay $375-million for having misled users on user and child safety. They might evade paying tax, but they're losing big at the courthouse!

It's an interesting precedent. I wonder where it will lead.

[ptrikha21]

Well, this case was in a country where Court cases are decided faster.
Plus courts are more aware of consumer protection and common citizens rights.
If this had happened in India, the court case would have taken many years and not sure if the decision would have been so much against the tech companies.

Yet I am not sure how much actual ground impact would this judgement make.
May be it would make Tech companies more conscious of their decisions and efforts.

[eldavis]

Personally i feel this case in particular doesn't even make sense. No one forced her to use these platforms, so if it's affecting her menta mental health, all she needs to do is to stop.

[Jem Smith]

Personally i feel this case in particular doesn't even make sense. No one forced her to use these platforms, so if it's affecting her menta mental health, all she needs to do is to stop.

I don't think you're getting the 'addiction' part. It's like telling a junkie that all they need to do is stop taking heroin.

Also, if you read the article she became addicted to social media at 6 years old, so she was very vulnerable.

[Fergal]

she became addicted to social media at 6 years old

Did she have parents or other caregivers to look after her and protect her?

[bestwriter]

Addiction is a disease and that needs treatment. Strange that this woman won her case. The court should have instead directed her to a psychiatrist.

[germainebull]

Sad that those with money usually have their way in this corrupt, materialistic world.
May Meta and Google act morally.

[Jem Smith]

she became addicted to social media at 6 years old

Did she have parents or other caregivers to look after her and protect her?

It doesn't say. I'm guessing she had parents or guardians who neglected her. It's an extreme case, but even loving, caring parents sometimes drop the ball when it comes to new technology, not knowing where the new dangers are to be wary of (I'm thinking more of things like seemingly innocent online games where bullying happens, or pedophiles groom children while pretending to be children themselves).

-- 11 Apr 2026, 13:13 --

Addiction is a disease and that needs treatment. Strange that this woman won her case. The court should have instead directed her to a psychiatrist.

She'd have been to one already many times for it to come to this. You can't claim psychological harm without medical professionals signing off on it.

[germainebull]

Addiction is a disease and that needs treatment. Strange that this woman won her case. The court should have instead directed her to a psychiatrist.

Agree. Sad that most of us don't see addicts as victims. We often treat them as fully willing perpetrators.