SAN FRANCISCO: Meta is facing one of its most significant legal challenges yet over allegations that its social media platforms have targeted and harmed children and teenagers, with a major jury trial set to begin Tuesday.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 30 US states, including California and New York. The states allege that Meta violated federal and state laws designed to protect children’s privacy and knowingly used features on Instagram and Facebook that encouraged young users to spend more time on the platforms.
The states are seeking potential damages of more than $1 trillion, along with sweeping changes to the way Meta operates Instagram and Facebook for younger users. If the states ultimately prevail, the case could force significant changes to some of the most widely used features on Meta’s platforms.
Among the requested changes are ending “like” counts for young users, restricting infinite scrolling and introducing stronger protections for teenage accounts.
The states are also seeking a parental verification system for teenage users. They want Meta to modify what they describe as “dopamine-manipulating recommendation algorithms” and remove certain image filters that alter users’ appearances.
Other proposed restrictions include ending the automatic playback of videos, preventing young users from creating multiple accounts and eliminating disappearing content such as Instagram Stories.
The states argue that many of these features are designed to keep users, including children and teenagers, engaged for as long as possible. They allege that Meta uses notifications and other engagement tools to encourage young users to repeatedly return to its platforms.
According to the states, Meta deliberately designed aspects of its services to attract and retain young users, allegedly prioritising growth and engagement over their wellbeing. Meta, whose market value is estimated at around $1.5 trillion, has repeatedly rejected the allegations.
A Meta spokeswoman said the company strongly disagrees with the claims and remains confident that evidence presented during the trial will demonstrate its commitment to supporting young people.
The case will be heard by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, a chief federal judge in California. She has presided over several high-profile technology cases and has developed a reputation for direct and detailed questioning from the bench.
Meta Faces Growing Legal Pressure
The federal case comes as Meta has faced a series of legal challenges concerning the impact of its platforms on young users.
In a separate recent ruling in New Mexico, a judge ordered Meta to pay a combined $942 million and imposed restrictions similar to some of the measures being sought by the states in the latest case.
The New Mexico ruling included requirements to eliminate Instagram and Facebook “like” counts for users under 18, restrict teenagers from sending or receiving nude images through the platforms and limit push notifications to certain hours.
The growing number of cases could increase pressure on Meta to reconsider how its platforms are designed for children and teenagers.
For Meta, the latest jury trial carries potentially far-reaching consequences. A ruling requiring major changes to Instagram and Facebook could affect core elements of the platforms’ business model and influence how social media companies across the United States design services for younger users.
The outcome could also establish an important precedent for how technology companies are held responsible for the design of platforms used by children and teenagers.
