Meta Platforms has denied allegations made by several U.S. states that it deliberately aimed to make children addicted to its Facebook and Instagram services to increase profits as a significant trial began on Tuesday. A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against Meta, seeking substantial financial penalties and alterations to Meta’s operational practices. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are leading the charge, accusing Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram in a way that captivates young users, leading to mental health issues and deceptive safety information. The states claim that Meta violated federal laws by inappropriately collecting and utilizing children’s personal data.
The trial, happening in Oakland, California, is being described by experts as one of the most significant legal battles concerning 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 and individuals questioning whether their platforms are detrimental to young users.
During the trial’s opening statements, Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, asserted that Meta’s business strategy was centered around ensnaring users, extracting their data, and concealing the truth from the public. O’Neill emphasized that this approach was particularly effective on children and stressed that Meta needed to assure concerned individuals about the safety of young users.
Meta’s legal representative, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users face challenges but pointed out that studies have not definitively linked social media use among adolescents with diminished well-being. Schmidt highlighted that Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is committed to enhancing services rather than endangering users.
The trial’s jury is expected to provide an advisory verdict, which could influence the ultimate decision of U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers regarding Meta’s accountability. If Meta is found liable, civil penalties and modifications to Facebook and Instagram could be imposed. Meta has indicated that the penalties might reach up to $1.4 trillion, nearly equivalent to the company’s market value.
Attorneys general mentioned during a recent hearing that the penalties could range from around $200 billion to three years’ worth of Meta’s after-tax profits. Additionally, the states leading the lawsuit advocate for substantial changes to Facebook and Instagram, including eliminating features like likes and infinite scrolling, imposing time restrictions for younger users, and enforcing stringent measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
The trial’s first witness, former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar, began testifying after the initial arguments. Bejar has previously criticized Meta for its ineffective child safety tools and testified against the company in multiple trials. Despite Meta’s attempts to prevent his testimony, the judge rejected the move, asserting the importance of his testimony. Bejar highlighted Meta’s approach of prioritizing speed over safety, emphasizing that many products, like Reels short-form videos, were released without proper safety considerations.
Zuckerberg and Instagram’s chief, Adam Mosseri, are anticipated to provide testimony as the trial progresses, which is scheduled to span six weeks. Meta’s stock experienced a decline during the trial’s commencement, ending the day down by 4.4%.
Critics of Meta gathered outside the courthouse as the trial began, with individuals like Mary Rodee, whose son’s death was allegedly linked to social media, expressing their concerns regarding Meta’s practices. The lawsuit originated in 2023 following revelations by whistleblower Frances Haugen, and recent court orders have held Meta accountable for addressing mental health concerns among teenagers. The legal battle against Meta is ongoing, with multiple states pursuing claims against the tech giant for its alleged exploitation of children through social media platforms.
