Meta Platforms has denied allegations from U.S. states accusing the company of intentionally aiming to create addiction among children using its Facebook and Instagram platforms for profit. The trial, which commenced on Tuesday, involves a group of 29 states suing Meta, seeking substantial financial penalties and changes in the company’s business practices.
Lead states such as California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to engage young users, leading to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and even suicide. They also alleged that Meta misled consumers about the safety of the platforms and violated federal laws by improperly collecting and utilizing children’s personal data.
The trial, taking place in an Oakland, California federal court, is considered a significant legal test regarding the impact of social media on young users. Meta, along with other social media giants like Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, face numerous lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals questioning the potential harm caused by their products to young users.
During the trial’s opening statements, Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, highlighted Meta’s business model of engaging and retaining users, gathering their data, and concealing the truth from the public. She emphasized the company’s focus on attracting children and reassuring their guardians about the safety of the platforms.
Meta’s attorney, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users face challenges but pointed out that research has not definitively linked adolescents’ social media usage to diminished well-being. He emphasized Meta’s commitment, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to enhancing services rather than endangering users.
The trial jury is expected to provide an advisory verdict, which the presiding U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will consider in determining Meta’s liability. If found liable, Meta could face civil penalties and be required to make modifications to Facebook and Instagram, potentially incurring penalties as high as $1.4 trillion US, close to the company’s market value.
State attorneys general proposed various changes to Facebook and Instagram, including removing features like likes and infinite scrolling, imposing time restrictions for younger users, and enforcing measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
The trial’s first witness, former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar, testified about the company’s alleged awareness that its child safety tools were ineffective. He revealed Meta’s lax approach to monitoring underage users online, citing a corporate culture of prioritizing rapid product deployment over safety considerations.
Critics of Meta, including parents of deceased children allegedly impacted by social media use, gathered outside the courthouse as the trial began. They expressed concerns over the platforms’ role in contributing to mental health issues and tragic incidents among young users.
The lawsuit against Meta originated in 2023, following whistleblower Frances Haugen’s revelations about the company’s awareness of safety risks to children. Recent legal actions, such as the order for Meta to pay $567 million to address mental health issues among teenagers in New Mexico, underscore the mounting legal challenges facing the tech giant.
Tennessee’s attorney general has also filed a lawsuit against Meta, echoing similar concerns about Instagram, with the case underway in Nashville.