Meta Knew They Were Addicting Kids. Now They’re Paying for It. episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 2, 2026 · 32 MIN

Meta Knew They Were Addicting Kids. Now They’re Paying for It.

from Question Everything

In the span of two days, juries handed down landmark verdicts against Meta and Google. In New Mexico, a jury ordered Meta to pay the state $375 million for failing to protect young people from predators on Instagram. And in Los Angeles, a jury found that Meta and Google knowingly designed social media platforms that addicted a young girl, causing depression, body dysmorphia, and self-harm.  But as listeners to this show might wonder – isn't suing social media companies supposed to be impossible, because of Section 230? Brian talks to co-lead counsel in LA, Mariana McConnell, about how they pulled off the win, what this huge verdict means for the internet, and the internal Meta document that said, “Young ones are the best ones.”  Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter – we’ll be sharing Brian’s extended interview with Mariana McConnell there.  Guests:  Mariana McConnell, plaintiff's co-lead counsel  Please support the organizations that support this show: Loyola Marymount University If you’re interested in Fabric by Gerber Life go to https://meetfabric.com/QUESTION and apply today, risk-free. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code QUESTION at https://www.oneskin.co/QUESTION  #oneskinpod Ground News is a platform that makes it easy to compare news sources, read between the lines of media bias and break free from algorithms. Go to groundnews.com/QUESTION to get 40% off the unlimited Vantage plan.

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Meta Knew They Were Addicting Kids. Now They’re Paying for It.

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