Meta Platforms has refuted allegations by various U.S. states that it deliberately aimed to ensnare youngsters in its Facebook and Instagram platforms for profit, as a significant trial commenced on Tuesday. A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states is taking legal action against Meta, seeking potential penalties amounting to tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars and demanding alterations to Meta’s business practices.
California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, the leading states in the lawsuit, have accused Meta of engineering Facebook and Instagram to attract young users, leading to heightened levels of stress, depression, and, in some cases, suicide. All 29 states have accused Meta of breaching federal laws by improperly gathering and utilizing children’s personal information.
The trial, taking place in Oakland, California, is being described as the most significant legal examination to date of the impact of social media on young users. Meta, along with other major social media entities like Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, are facing a multitude of lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals questioning whether their products are detrimental to young users.
Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general representing California, informed the jury that Meta’s primary business strategy was to engage users, retain them for as long as possible, extract their data, and withhold vital information from the public. She emphasized that this strategy was especially effective with children, as Meta required their involvement while reassuring concerned individuals about the safety of minors.
In response, Meta’s lawyer, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users encounter challenges; however, research has not definitively linked adolescents’ social media usage to diminished well-being. Schmidt highlighted that Meta’s co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, shares the company’s commitment to enhancing services without compromising user safety.
The presiding U.S. District Judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, will ultimately determine Meta’s liability, considering the advisory verdict expected from the jurors. If Meta is found liable, potential civil penalties and adjustments to Facebook and Instagram could be imposed. Meta has cautioned that penalties could reach up to $1.4 trillion, nearly equivalent to the company’s market value in Menlo Park, California.
The attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are advocating for extensive reforms within Facebook and Instagram, including removing features like likes and the infinite scroll, setting usage time limits for younger individuals, and enforcing restrictions to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
The trial, projected to last at least six weeks, commenced with the testimony of Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety engineer, who testified against the company regarding the ineffectiveness of child safety measures. Bejar highlighted Meta’s negligence in monitoring online activities of children under 13 and the lack of safety considerations during the deployment of new products, such as Reels short-form videos.
As the trial unfolds, the testimonies of key figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are anticipated. Critics of Meta gathered outside the courthouse, including individuals like Mary Rodee, who spoke about her son’s tragic experience linked to social media use. The lawsuit, originating in 2023 following revelations by whistleblower Frances Haugen, continues to shed light on Meta’s alleged prioritization of profits over user safety.
