Walker Montgomery was only 16 when a person pretending to be a teenage girl targeted him through Instagram. This led to cybersex and within hours, he took his own life. Caught up in a sextortion scheme, the Mississippi teenager tragically died.
His father, Brian Montgomery, feels the pain of losing a son who loved the outdoors and sports, but he sees recent court rulings as a sign of change. Parents, like him, are celebrating as Meta lost two court cases. Juries in different states found that social media platforms engage users without considering their safety.
“We’re talking about the most financially sound business that the planet has ever known. This will set an expectation.”
The first verdict came Tuesday in New Mexico. Jurors agreed with state prosecutors that Meta, owner of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, cared more about profit than user safety. The court imposed a $375 million penalty. The following day, jurors in Los Angeles found that Meta and Google-owned YouTube designed their platforms to engage young users recklessly.
Both companies intend to explore legal options, including appeals. These verdicts highlight a changing public view about the responsibilities of social media companies in safeguarding young users.
For years, social media companies have denied claims that they harm children’s mental health with addictive design strategies. They also fail to guard them against sexual predators and harmful content. This year, numerous state and federal trials seek to hold these companies accountable.
Brian Montgomery, though not a plaintiff in the cases, calls for legislative action. “They’ve proven,” he said, referring to the social media industry, “that they can’t regulate themselves.”
Another parent, Deb Schmill from Massachusetts, understands the complex emotions these rulings evoke. Her daughter, Becca Schmill, died at 18 from fentanyl poisoning. The drugs were acquired through a social media platform following her sexual assault and victimization in a revenge porn situation. Schmill, also not a plaintiff, reflects on what might have been if actions had been taken years earlier.
Like Montgomery, Schmill advocates for the Kids Online Safety Act. The bill, aimed at protecting children from online harm, passed the U.S. Senate two years ago but has yet to pass in the House.
The cases against social media companies could take years to resolve with appeals and settlement discussions. In contrast, tech regulations in other parts of the world, such as Europe and Australia, advance more swiftly.
Parents, whether directly affected by tragedy or not, grow increasingly cautious. Charles Halley from Alameda, California, shared similar concerns as he dropped his son off at school. Without a phone, his son is shielded from the potential harm he believes social media can bring.
“The divisiveness, the beauty standard, consumerism, just everything that’s wrong with society kind of packaged up and marketed to kids.”
Halley participates with other parents in efforts to limit social media’s negative impact. Yet, he admits uncertainty about completely stopping its influence. He fears that exposure to social media might be especially damaging to children whose brains are still developing.
Terry Chea contributed from Alameda, California.