Meta Platforms denied allegations made by several U.S. states claiming that it deliberately aimed to engage children on its Facebook and Instagram platforms to generate profits as a significant trial began on Tuesday. A coalition of 29 U.S. states filed a lawsuit against Meta, seeking substantial financial penalties and changes to Meta’s business practices. The lead states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to attract young users, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide. They also accused Meta of violating federal law by improperly collecting and using children’s personal data.
The ongoing trial in a federal court in Oakland, California, is considered a pivotal legal assessment of social media’s impact on young users. Meta, along with other social media giants like Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, faces numerous lawsuits from various entities questioning whether their platforms are harmful to young users.
During the trial, Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, informed the jury that Meta’s strategy was to engage users, gather their data, and conceal the truth from the public, particularly targeting children. O’Neill emphasized that Meta prioritized attracting and retaining young users and reassuring concerned individuals about the safety of children using their platforms.
In response, Meta’s attorney, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged the challenges faced by some social media users but highlighted that research did not establish a clear connection between adolescents’ social media usage and their well-being. Schmidt emphasized Meta’s commitment, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to enhance services without compromising safety.
The trial’s outcome could lead to potential modifications to Instagram and Facebook, with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers responsible for determining Meta’s accountability. If found liable, Meta could face civil penalties and mandated alterations to its platforms, with penalties potentially reaching up to $1.4 trillion, equivalent to the company’s market value.
Furthermore, the states involved in the lawsuit are advocating for significant changes to Facebook and Instagram, such as eliminating features like likes and infinite scrolling, setting time restrictions for young users, and enforcing measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
The trial also featured testimony from Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety engineer, who criticized Meta’s ineffective child safety tools and its approach to monitoring underage users’ activities. Bejar highlighted Meta’s negligence towards safety concerns during product launches, indicating a lack of consideration for user safety.
The trial is anticipated to continue for six weeks, with testimonies expected from top Meta executives, including Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri. Amid the legal proceedings, Meta’s stock prices experienced fluctuations, closing down by 4.4 percent on Tuesday. Critics of Meta gathered outside the courthouse to voice concerns about the company’s impact on children’s safety, citing personal tragedies linked to social media use.
The lawsuit against Meta commenced in 2023 following whistleblower Frances Haugen’s revelations about Meta’s awareness of the risks posed by its platforms to children. Recent legal actions, including a court order for Meta to address mental health issues among teenagers, highlight the growing scrutiny and legal challenges confronting the tech giant.