Meta Platforms has denied allegations made by U.S. states that it deliberately aimed to create addiction among children using its Facebook and Instagram platforms for profit as a trial commenced on Tuesday. A group of 29 U.S. states, consisting of both Democrats and Republicans, have filed a lawsuit against Meta, seeking potentially significant financial penalties and alterations to Meta’s business practices.
California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, the lead states in the lawsuit, have accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to engage young users in a way that leads to increased anxiety, depression, and even suicide, while also deceiving consumers about the safety of the platforms. All 29 states have accused Meta of breaching federal regulations by improperly collecting and utilizing children’s personal information.
Legal experts have described the trial taking place in an Oakland, California federal court as one of the most significant legal tests regarding the impact of social media on young users. Meta, alongside other social media giants such as Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, faces numerous lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals questioning whether their products harm young users.
During the trial’s opening statements, Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, informed the jury that Meta’s business strategy revolved around attracting users, retaining their engagement, extracting their data, and concealing the truth from the public. O’Neill emphasized that this strategy was particularly effective with children, as Meta needed them and sought to assure concerned individuals about their safety.
Meta’s attorney, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users encounter difficulties but argued that research does not definitively establish a direct link between adolescents’ social media use and diminished well-being. Schmidt reiterated that Meta’s co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, shares the company’s commitment to enhancing its services rather than endangering its users.
The trial proceedings are anticipated to last six weeks, with Meta’s liability ultimately being determined by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. If Meta is found liable, civil penalties could be enforced, and alterations to Facebook and Instagram may be mandated. The potential penalties mentioned range from $200 billion to as high as $1.4 trillion, close to the company’s market value.
The attorneys general representing California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are advocating for extensive changes to Facebook and Instagram, including the elimination of features like likes and infinite scrolling, implementing time restrictions for younger users, and enforcing measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety engineer, testified as the states’ initial witness following the conclusion of opening arguments. Bejar alleged that Meta was aware that its child safety tools were ineffective and criticized the company’s approach to monitoring children under 13 online. The trial is expected to include testimonies from Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head.
The lawsuit against Meta was initiated in 2023, following whistleblower Frances Haugen’s revelations to a U.S. Senate committee regarding Meta’s knowledge of the safety risks its products posed to children. Recent legal actions against Meta, including the $567 million payment ordered by a New Mexico judge and a $6 million jury verdict in Los Angeles, underscore the growing scrutiny faced by social media platforms regarding their impact on users, particularly children.
