Meta Platforms requested a Los Angeles judge overturn a March jury verdict finding the company liable for a user’s depression. The company seeks a reversed ruling or an entirely new trial.
A jury awarded the plaintiff $4.2 million in damages. Jurors found Meta negligent in platform design and determined the company failed to warn users of potential dangers.
Meta’s legal challenge relies on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This federal law shields online platforms from liability regarding user-generated content.
Meta argues the plaintiff’s mental health issues stemmed from content consumed rather than design features like infinite scroll or autoplay. This case serves as a bellwether for thousands of similar lawsuits against social media firms.