Meta Platforms will appear before a federal court in California in a case that could become the largest trial for the company regarding the impact of social networks on children. A coalition of state attorneys general accuses Meta of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to keep underage users on the apps for as long as possible.
The trial will begin in Oakland on Wednesday, August 12, and is expected to last seven weeks. Jury selection will take place on Wednesday, and opening statements are scheduled to begin on August 18. The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general of Colorado, Kentucky, California, and New Jersey. They allege that Meta created mechanisms that foster addiction among young users to its platforms and also misled consumers about the safety of its services. Another 29 states have claimed that the company illegally collected and used children’s data, violating federal law.
Investigation and testimony
Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, as well as Instagram head Adam Mosseri, are expected to testify in this case. Meta has stated that potential financial sanctions could reach 1.4 trillion dollars—an amount nearly equal to the company’s market value, which was estimated at 1.5 trillion dollars. Meanwhile, the attorneys general have not publicly disclosed the amount of compensation they will seek in court. In addition to monetary payments, the states are seeking a court injunction that could require Meta to implement age restrictions, remove the infinite scroll feature, and make other significant changes to Facebook and Instagram.
“We have listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement, and conducted in-depth research to understand the issues that matter most,” a Meta representative said.
The lawsuit from the states was filed in 2023 after a joint investigation by several states into the impact of Instagram and Facebook on minors. The investigation began after statements by former Meta employee Frances Haugen. In 2021, she told a U.S. Senate committee that the company was aware of the potential harm its products posed to young users and understood how to make them safer but did not implement the necessary changes, prioritizing profit instead.
“Meta knows that its platforms harm children and teenagers, but, as we allege in our lawsuit, it continues to foster addiction in children. Our children are not data to be monetized,” said Jennifer Davenport.
Thousands of lawsuits and previous rulings
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week showed that 85% of Americans believe social networks can be addictive to children. Another 61% of respondents said there needs to be increased oversight of companies that own such platforms.
Meta and other tech companies are facing increasing pressure from legislators and courts. The current trial is one of thousands of lawsuits filed by states, municipalities, school districts, and individual citizens over the potential harm social networks cause to children and teenagers. Meta has warned that mass lawsuits could significantly impact its business and financial results. The company generally rejects the accusations, emphasizing that it has taken steps to protect children on its platforms. Meta also stated that it could not have misled consumers about the possibility of addiction to its services because “social media addiction” is not a recognized psychiatric diagnosis.
Two previous trials, considered by juries, ended with rulings against Meta. Last week, a judge in New Mexico ordered the company to pay 567 million dollars and change the operation of its platforms after finding it responsible for exacerbating the children’s mental health crisis in the state. Meta also settled a lawsuit filed by a Kentucky school district, which was scheduled to go to trial in June. Large compensation amounts and court injunctions regarding the operation of platforms could potentially threaten the very existence of social media companies that are defendants in such cases, noted Eric Goldman.
Source: Mezha.net
