Meta Platforms has denied accusations made by U.S. states that it deliberately aimed to create dependency among young users on its Facebook and Instagram platforms for financial gain, as a significant trial began on Tuesday. A coalition of 29 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against Meta, seeking substantial penalties and reforms in Meta’s business practices.
California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, serving as lead states, have alleged that Meta engineered Facebook and Instagram to engage young users, leading to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal tendencies, while also deceiving consumers about the safety of the platforms. All 29 states have accused Meta of violating federal laws by improperly collecting and utilizing children’s personal data.
The trial, taking place in a federal court in Oakland, California, is being described as a pivotal legal examination of the impact of social media on young individuals. Meta, alongside other social media companies like Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, is facing numerous lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals regarding the potential harm caused to young users by their products.
During the trial’s opening statements, Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, asserted that Meta’s business strategy revolved around engaging users, extracting their data, and concealing the truth from the public. O’Neill emphasized that this strategy was particularly effective with children, highlighting Meta’s need for young users and the necessity to reassure their caregivers about their safety.
Meta’s legal representative, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users encounter challenges but argued that research has not definitively linked adolescents’ social media usage to diminished well-being. Schmidt emphasized that Meta’s co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, shares the company’s commitment to enhancing its services rather than endangering users.
The trial proceedings are expected to last six weeks, with jurors providing an advisory verdict that the U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will consider in determining Meta’s accountability. If Meta is found liable, Rogers could impose civil penalties and mandate alterations to the Facebook and Instagram platforms. Meta has warned that penalties could reach $1.4 trillion, nearly equivalent to the company’s market value in Menlo Park, California.
Furthermore, the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey have proposed significant reforms for Facebook and Instagram, including the elimination of features like likes and infinite scrolling, setting time limits for younger users, and implementing restrictions to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.