This is pretty intense. If you think you're addicted to social platforms, you could sue the social media giants and even win compensation. Yesterday, a California jury ruled that Meta and Google are responsible for the depression and anxiety of a woman (referred to by the media as KGM) who has been addicted to social media since childhood, and awarded her $6 million in damages ($3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages), with Meta responsible for 70% of the payout. Back in February, KGM testified in court that she started using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at age 9. By the time she graduated elementary school, she had already posted 284 videos on YouTube. Her claims included: 1) Early exposure to social media led to her addiction to the technology and worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts. Features like notifications made her feel "excited," and her lawyers argued these features were intentionally designed to be addictive. 2) She used Instagram filters on almost all her photos, which altered appearances. She said she had never experienced the negative emotions associated with body dysmorphic disorder before using social media and filters. 3) Due to social media use, she developed body dysmorphic disorder—a clinically diagnosed condition. This is also the first time a jury has ruled that social media apps should be considered defective products because they are designed to exploit the developing brains of children and teenagers. This verdict could set the stage for thousands of similar lawsuits. No wonder Meta and Google dropped more than other major stocks last night.