Ambrose McCall Analyzes Jury Verdicts Holding Social Media Sites Liable for Addictive Content

Hinshaw partner Ambrose McCall recently joined the Greg and Dan Show on 1470 WMBD to discuss two significant jury verdicts in which YouTube and Meta were found liable for the alleged addictive influence of their content on users. In a follow-up discussion to his previous appearance on the Greg and Dan Show, Ambrose walked through each case—one in California and one in New Mexico—highlighting the legal complexities of social media regulation.

He explained how, in the California case, a minor alleged that her mental health was harmed due to an addiction to the YouTube and Meta platforms. In the New Mexico case, the state attorney general claimed Meta violated 75 consumer protection laws by failing to disclose platform vulnerabilities that allegedly enabled the sexual exploitation of minors. The New Mexico case resulted in a $375 million verdict, while the California case awarded the plaintiff $6 million in damages. Meta has stated it will appeal both rulings.

Ambrose also addressed the broader challenges these cases pose for marketers and courts alike, noting that the DSM—used for diagnosing psychiatric disorders—still does not recognize “social media addiction” as a mental health disorder, complicating litigation and regulatory efforts.

Listen to the full episode below or here on the Greg and Dan Show website.