Meta Platforms has denied allegations made by several U.S. states that it deliberately aimed to make children addicted to its Facebook and Instagram platforms for financial gain as a pivotal trial began on Tuesday. A coalition of 29 states has filed a lawsuit against Meta, seeking potentially massive penalties and demanding changes to the company’s business practices.
Leading states such as California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have accused Meta of purposefully designing Facebook and Instagram to engage young users, leading to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and even suicide. The states have also accused Meta of violating federal laws by unlawfully collecting and utilizing children’s personal information.
The ongoing trial in the federal court in Oakland, California, is being hailed as a significant legal challenge to assess 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 various entities and individuals questioning the potential harm caused to young users by their platforms.
During the trial’s opening statements, California’s Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill asserted that Meta’s business strategy revolved around engaging users, harvesting their data, and concealing the truth from the public. She emphasized the company’s focus on attracting children and reassuring concerned individuals about their safety.
On the defense side, Meta’s attorney Paul Schmidt acknowledged the challenges some social media users face but argued that research does not definitively link adolescents’ social media use to their well-being issues. Schmidt highlighted Meta’s commitment, particularly from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to enhance services without compromising user safety.
The trial’s outcome could lead to significant changes within Facebook and Instagram, pending a verdict by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. If Meta is found liable, civil penalties and alterations to the platforms could be imposed. Meta has indicated potential penalties reaching $1.4 trillion, close to the company’s market value.
States like California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are pushing for extensive reforms within Facebook and Instagram, including eliminating features like likes and infinite scrolling, setting time restrictions for younger users, and enforcing measures to keep children under 13 off the platforms.
The trial commenced with former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar testifying against the company. Bejar criticized Meta’s approach to child safety and highlighted the company’s negligence in monitoring underage users online. The trial is expected to continue for six weeks, with testimonies from top executives like Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri.
Outside the courtroom, critics of Meta voiced their concerns, with some sharing personal stories of harm caused by social media platforms. The lawsuit, initiated in 2023 following whistleblower Frances Haugen’s revelations, underscores the growing scrutiny of tech companies’ impact on society, particularly on vulnerable demographics like children and teenagers.