



Mint Explainer | Social media addiction ruling: What it means for Instagram, YouTube in India
Mint explains.On Wednesday, the California Superior Court held that Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and Google, which owns YouTube, deliberately built features that foster prolonged, compulsive use among children, contributing to mental distress and long-term harm.The court flagged infinite scroll and algorithmic recommendations as core drivers of “addiction by design,” drawing parallels with tobacco companies. Both firms have disputed the verdict.Unlikely.
The $6-million fine is negligible relative to the roughly $261 billion in annual revenue generated by Meta and YouTube, lawyers in India and the US said the precedent was far more significant than the monetary compensation.After a definitive verdict calling social media applications addictive by design, Big Tech firms may be pushed to make significant changes around the world. The UK, Australia and India are already moving to restrict underage access to platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.
Meta’s legal counsel is reportedly weighing its options.Critical. India is the largest user base for Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
As of October 2025, Facebook had 403 million monthly active users in India, Instagram 481 million, and YouTube 500 million, according to data from Statista. While revenue contribution is lower, the market is central to data, scale, and future growth, especially given India’s young user base.Yes.
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