Jury Rules Meta, YouTube Addictive Features Harmed Girl

0:00It's March 26. You're listening to Sidney News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. A US jury has ruled that meta and YouTube created addictive features that harmed a young girl, awarding her $6 million in damages, split, 70-30 between meta and Google. The plaintiffs started using YouTube at 8-6 and Instagram at 9, leading to depression, self-harm, and diagnoses of body dysmorphic disorder, and social phobia by her early teens. Both companies say they disagree and plan to appeal, but the decision could influence cases worldwide. Australian law firms are now exploring similar lawsuits. Shine lawyers is reviewing inquiries for potential claims, while Slater and Gordon and Maurice Blackburn see it as a push for tech accountability. Drawing parallels to their actions against other big companies. Experts notice shift from blaming parents to holding platforms responsible for tools like infinite scroll and notifications designed to hook users.

1:02Meanwhile, Australia's government just expanded its under-16 social media ban to cover addictive apps with features like constant likes and urgent time limits. This ruling ramps up global pressure on tech giants, with Australia eyeing a digital duty of care law to make platforms prevent harm upfront. Signalling tougher rules ahead for social media's impact on kids.