YouTube is contesting the ruling regarding its role in social media addiction.

      YouTube has filed an appeal against a significant social media addiction ruling, aligning itself with Meta. Its position is that YouTube should not be classified as a social media platform.

      YouTube's defense against the conclusion that it contributed to a child's addiction to its app is quite intriguing. The argument put forth is that it is not a social media platform at all.

      According to a report from the Associated Press, the Google-owned video platform has appealed the pivotal ruling in a social media addiction case in Los Angeles. Its legal team submitted a notice of appeal on Monday, just a few days after Meta filed its own appeal.

      The lawsuit involved a 20-year-old woman, referred to in court as Kaley, who claimed she developed an addiction to social media as a child, which negatively impacted her mental health. In March, a jury found that the negligence of both YouTube and Meta significantly contributed to her harm.

      The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and suggested an additional $3 million in punitive damages. Later, trial judge Carolyn Kuhl dismissed the requests for a retrial from both companies.

      ‘Not a social media platform’

      Throughout the five-week trial, YouTube's key argument was straightforward. Its lawyers contended that the platform provides video sharing and streaming, distinguishing it from social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

      Both companies also referenced Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from being held liable for user-generated content. However, the plaintiff’s legal team bypassed this point, highlighting design features, such as autoplay, that they claim encourage users to engage longer and less intentionally.

      Google referred to the appeals as typical, with spokesperson José Castañeda stating they are “standard motions for this case to progress.” Kaley’s lead attorney, Mark Lanier, expressed confidence that the appellate court will uphold the verdict.

      Thousands Awaiting Resolution

      The implications extend well beyond this single case. Kaley's case is unprecedented, and its outcome may influence numerous similar lawsuits alleging that social media companies intentionally cause harm to users. TikTok and Snap reached settlements before this trial commenced.

      The potential financial impact could be substantial. Lawyers have likened this situation to the tobacco lawsuits of the 1990s. For Meta, the costs associated with child-safety litigation may surpass its extensive AI budget. Meanwhile, YouTube prefers to assert that it was never categorized as such in the first place.