A US court has issued a landmark ruling convicting Meta and Google, holding them responsible for the widespread digital addiction among their users. Following lengthy deliberations in California, the jury ordered immediate compensation for victims and the modification of engagement algorithms.
This decision marks a critical legal turning point, opening the floodgates for similar lawsuits from families and educational institutions. The conviction was based on evidence confirming the companies' deliberate use of psychological tactics to hijack user attention, particularly among minors, causing widespread mental health crises including depression and stress.
The tech giants plan to appeal the verdict, warning of its catastrophic implications for the future of the free internet. The defense argues that societal responsibility should be shared with parents and schools, rather than placing the blame exclusively on digital service providers.
