Tech Talk: Seattle attorney behind landmark case that could reshape social media as Meta, YouTube found liable in youth addiction lawsuits

A Seattle-based attorney who spoke with KIRO Newsradio last August may now be at the center of a legal shift that could redefine how social media platforms operate nationwide.

Matthew Bergman has helped lead cases resulting in major verdicts against Meta and YouTube, as courts increasingly hold tech companies accountable for the impact of their platforms on children.

“I think it resonates with every parent in America,” Bergman previously told KIRO Newsradio. “Anyone who has kids experiences the consequences of social media addiction, and some of the parents experience very horrific consequences.”

Before the court case, Bergman said he and his team uncovered evidence during litigation supporting claims that platforms are intentionally designed to keep young users engaged. The group was also highlighted in the documentary “Can’t Look Away: The Case Against Social Media,” which follows families seeking accountability from social media companies.

Jury finds Meta, Youtube liable for addiction and awards millions in damages

Last week, in a first-of-its-kind outcome, a jury found Meta and YouTube liable for designing algorithms that contributed to addiction among minors. It’s a decision that could have far-reaching implications for how platforms are built, regulated, and used by younger audiences.

“I really think that this is on a par with figuring out that cigarettes cause cancer, as this is a huge societal shift that we’re seeing,” explained tech journalist Jacob Ward on Meet the Press Sunday. “It is definitely the end of childhood, as we have come to accept it.”

The finding included a $375 million penalty in New Mexico and a $3 million award in Los Angeles, intensifying scrutiny on the industry and raising big questions about how they will operate in the future.

Bergman represented a victim identified as K.G.M. in one of the cases. According to court findings, the girl began using YouTube at age six and later expanded to other platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat by age 11. She claimed she later experienced anxiety, body dysmorphia, and depression.

The jury found the companies negligent in the design of their platforms, concluding the apps contributed to the child’s mental health issues.

“They design platforms that are addictive to young people,” Bergman explained. “They know that their platforms are being used to facilitate drug deals, and they keep doing it.”

The lawsuits are part of a broader legal effort led by the Social Media Victims Law Center, which has filed more than 1,500 cases against tech companies, including Snapchat, Meta, and TikTok. The organization alleges the companies have contributed to a youth mental health crisis through addictive design and insufficient safeguards.

95% of teens use social media as mental health crisis deepens, study finds

According to the Pew Research Center, 95% of teens use social media, and about one-third say they are online almost constantly. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than half of teenage girls report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Public health officials, including the American Psychological Association and the U.S. surgeon general, have warned of links between social media use and rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts among youth.

In response, companies including TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat say they have introduced safeguards to help teens and parents manage screen time and online activity. However, Bergman argued that those efforts fall short.

“They’re trying to, on one hand, say you shouldn’t use it too much, and on the other hand, provide products that are psychologically and neurologically addictive,” Bergman said. “If they just turn off the algorithms and show kids what they want to see, not what they can’t look away from, the mental health crisis that we would be seeing in our young people would not exist, and our kids would be healthier and safer, and we’d be on a much better trajectory.”

In a statement, Meta said it respectfully disagrees with the verdict and will appeal. Experts like Ward say there is more than just this one case on the line for both companies. Instead, this singular case could open the door to thousands of similar claims with a legal roadmap for how to successfully win in court.

“There are enormous First Amendment issues that are going to come up with this,” Ward explained. “And you know that meta and YouTube are going to fight tooth and nail because this is an existential threat to the way they do business.”

The outcome of the cases could also have far-reaching implications for how social media platforms design their products and regulate content for younger users, as courts increasingly weigh the responsibility of tech companies in protecting children online.

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