Yesterday, Meta and YouTube were found liable for deliberately designing addictive products that hooked a young user and led to her being harmed. The tech companies were found to be negligent and to have failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their products.
This landmark jury verdict in the United States marks a significant moment in global efforts to understand and address the impact of digital environments on children’s wellbeing.
The finding that major platforms may be held accountable for the design of products that contribute to harm underscores a growing recognition: children are not simply users of technology — they are rights-holders who require protection, safety, and care in digital spaces.
Our members – national child helplines in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide – hear directly from children and young people every day. Increasingly, their concerns reflect the pressures of online life — from anxiety and self-image to exposure to harmful content and behaviours.
This case reinforces what child helplines around the world have been observing for years: that platform design, not just content, plays a critical role in shaping children’s experiences and risks online.
This verdict should serve as a wake-up call.
We call on governments, regulators and technology companies to work together to ensure that children’s safety is embedded by design — not treated as an afterthought. This includes stronger safeguards, transparency, and accountability mechanisms that prioritize children’s rights and wellbeing.
Child helplines remain a vital, trusted point of support for young people navigating these challenges. As the digital landscape evolves, so too must our collective responsibility to ensure that every child has access to safe environments — and someone to turn to when they need help.
Helen Mason
Executive Director
