Meta Platforms has refuted allegations from several U.S. states that it purposely aimed to make children dependent on its Facebook and Instagram services for financial gain as a high-stakes trial commenced on Tuesday. A coalition of 29 states is taking legal action against Meta, seeking significant financial penalties and reforms to Meta’s business practices.
The lead states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, have accused Meta of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to engage young users, leading to mental health issues and deceptive safety claims. These states, along with all 29 plaintiffs, have accused Meta of violating federal laws by inappropriately collecting and utilizing children’s personal information.
The trial unfolding in an Oakland, California federal court is seen as a pivotal legal challenge examining the impact of social media on young individuals. Meta, alongside other social media giants like Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, faces numerous lawsuits from various entities questioning the potential harm caused by their platforms to young users.
During the trial’s opening statements, California’s deputy attorney general, Megan O’Neill, asserted that Meta’s strategy revolved around engaging and retaining users, extracting their data, and concealing the truth from the public. O’Neill emphasized that Meta specifically targeted children and needed to reassure concerned parties about their safety.
Meta’s legal representative, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users encounter challenges but emphasized that research has not definitively linked adolescent social media use to diminished well-being. Schmidt highlighted 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, influencing the final decision of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers regarding Meta’s responsibility. If found liable, Meta could face civil penalties and be mandated to alter the operations of Facebook and Instagram, with potential penalties reaching up to $1.4 trillion US.
The attorneys general of the suing states proposed substantial changes to Meta’s platforms, such as removing features like likes and infinite scrolling, imposing time restrictions for young users, and implementing safeguards to prevent children under 13 from accessing the services. The trial witnesses, including former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar and top executives like Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri, are expected to shed light on the company’s practices.
Critics of Meta, including individuals who have experienced tragic outcomes related to social media use, voiced their concerns outside the courthouse as the trial commenced. The lawsuit against Meta, initiated in 2023 following whistleblower revelations, underscores the ongoing scrutiny facing tech companies over their impact on society, particularly on vulnerable users like children and adolescents.