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Regulatory Threats and Business Pressures

Former Twitter executive Bruce Daisley said social media firms have built their value on user engagement. “Effectively you've got a business which is just geared for trying to force people to spend more and more time [on their apps],” he told the BBC’s World Business Express.

Any lawsuits or regulations that disrupt this growth model are viewed as serious challenges. “The tech firms spend more on lobbying and more on PR than any other sector in the world,” Daisley said. “They are very intent on trying to win the soft influence battle to try and persuade politicians to go easy on them.”

The Trial’s Symbolic Moments

During arguments for punitive damages, Kaley’s attorney Mark Lanier used a jar of M&Ms to illustrate Meta’s wealth, with each candy representing $1 billion. Meta’s market value now sits near $1.4 trillion, or roughly 1,400 M&Ms.

“I would've thought it was likely we would have gotten a bigger number,” Lanier told reporters after the $6 million award was announced.

The verdict is being viewed as a victory by personal injury lawyers, who hope it sets the stage for eight upcoming bellwether trials.

In a separate New Mexico case, prosecutors convinced a jury that Meta facilitated child exploitation, though the company noted that the penalty was “just a fraction of what the state sought,” after authorities had requested over $2 billion.

While the Los Angeles award is modest by comparison and the jury was not unanimous, some observers caution against underestimating the ruling’s significance. “It makes sense to downplay the overall financial exposure so investors don't leave,” said Eric Goldman, associate dean and professor at Santa Clara University School of Law. “I don't think any of the social media services can afford to pay $6 million per injured user,” he added, describing social media addiction litigation as a potentially existential threat.

Goldman also noted the appeal process could change outcomes. Evidence and testimony from Kaley’s case may be reused in future trials, giving all parties a chance to refine their legal strategies as lawsuits brought by individuals, school districts, and states move through the courts.