Meta, Google Youth Safety Verdicts Drive Calls for Hill Action

Landmark verdicts that found Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.‘s Google responsible for harms posed to young users are fueling calls on Capitol Hill to move forward with passing online safety legislation.

Top House and Senate Republicans said the two major trials heighten the urgency to impose new mandates on tech companies to protect children and teenagers on their platforms. Lawmakers in both parties have sought to bolster youth safety protections amid growing concerns over social media risks but have struggled to reach a consensus on comprehensive legislation.

“The verdict underscores the need to move ...