Meta Platforms has refuted allegations made by a group of U.S. states accusing the company of deliberately fostering addiction among young users of its Facebook and Instagram platforms to drive profits. The trial, commencing on Tuesday, involves a bipartisan coalition of 29 states suing Meta for potential penalties amounting to tens or hundreds of billions of dollars, along with demands for changes in its business practices.
The states at the forefront of the legal action, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, have accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram in a manner that encourages dependency among young individuals, contributing to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide. The collective claim asserts that Meta violated federal laws by inappropriately collecting and utilizing personal data of minors.
Considered a significant legal examination of the impact of social media on young users, the trial in an Oakland federal court has drawn attention from experts. Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general from California, emphasized Meta’s strategy of engaging and retaining users, particularly children, while concealing information regarding platform safety from the public.
During the trial’s opening statements, O’Neill highlighted Meta’s alleged motive to attract and retain users, harvest their data, and maintain a façade of safety, particularly concerning children. In response, Meta’s legal representative, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged the challenges some social media users face but contended that research does not definitively link social media use among adolescents to diminished well-being. Schmidt also stressed Meta’s commitment to enhancing services and ensuring user safety.
The trial’s progression will see former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar providing testimony as the first witness for the states. Bejar has previously criticized Meta for ineffective child safety measures and testified against the company in multiple trials. Despite attempts by Meta to prevent Bejar’s testimony, the court allowed his statements, revealing Meta’s approach to product deployment with minimal regard for safety.
As the trial unfolds, Meta faces the possibility of substantial civil penalties and potential alterations to Facebook and Instagram if found liable by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The demands from the suing states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, encompass revisions to the platforms, such as eliminating features like likes and infinite scrolling to mitigate addictive behaviors and implementing measures to protect children online.
While the trial is anticipated to continue for six weeks with testimonies from high-profile figures like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, Meta’s market shares experienced a decline following the trial’s commencement. The states’ representatives clarified that the objective is not to shut down Meta but to address the exploitation of children through targeted research and monitoring of their online activities.
Critics of Meta gathered outside the court as the trial began, including individuals like Mary Rodee, who attributed her son’s tragic death to the negative impacts of social media. The lawsuit against Meta originated in 2023, catalyzed by whistleblower revelations about the company’s knowledge of platform risks for children. Recent legal actions, such as the $567 million fine imposed in New Mexico for mental health concerns and ongoing litigations in other states, underscore the growing scrutiny on social media companies’ practices regarding youth safety.