In the span of a few days, two verdicts have ushered in a new phase of litigation against social media platforms in the United States. Behind these landmark decisions, however, the courts are proceeding on legal grounds that remain tenuous and are likely to be tested on appeal. Two decisions handed down in quick succession in the United States mark a turning point in the emerging litigation targeting digital platforms for their effects on minors. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as in Los Angeles, California, juries found Meta liable—and, in California, Google as well for YouTube—in cases involving harm caused to child users. While these verdicts set important precedents, their legal scope and their standing on appeal remain uncertain. Two…
