Meta Platforms responded to accusations made by U.S. states alleging that the company deliberately aimed to create dependence among young users of Facebook and Instagram for financial gain as a pivotal trial commenced on Tuesday. A coalition of 29 U.S. states is suing Meta, seeking significant financial penalties and alterations to Meta’s business practices.
California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, as the leading states in the lawsuit, accused Meta of developing Facebook and Instagram to engage young users excessively, leading to mental health issues and deceptive safety information. All 29 states accused Meta of breaching federal laws by improperly gathering and utilizing children’s personal data.
The trial in the Oakland, California federal court, labeled as a major legal examination of social media’s impact on young individuals, began with opening statements on Tuesday. Meta, along with other social media giants like Snap, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, and YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, is facing numerous lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals questioning the potential harm caused to young users by their products.
During the trial, California’s deputy attorney general, Megan O’Neill, informed the jury that Meta’s business strategy focused on engaging and retaining users to gather their data while concealing the truth from the public. She emphasized that Meta’s tactics were particularly effective with children, emphasizing the necessity to assure the safety of young users.
Meta’s lawyer, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users encounter challenges but pointed out that research does not definitively link adolescents’ social media usage to a decline in well-being. Schmidt stressed that Meta’s co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is committed to enhancing services rather than endangering users.
The trial jury is anticipated to provide an advisory verdict, which the U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will consider in determining Meta’s liability. If Meta is found liable, civil penalties and modifications to Facebook and Instagram could be imposed. Meta has cautioned that penalties might reach $1.4 trillion, nearly equal to the company’s market value in Menlo Park, California.
The states involved are also pushing for substantial changes to Facebook and Instagram, including removing features like likes and infinite scrolling, implementing time restrictions for young users, and enforcing measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms.
Following the conclusion of opening arguments, Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety engineer and the first witness for the states, testified regarding Meta’s awareness that their child safety tools were ineffective. Bejar revealed that Meta prioritized speed and disregarded safety considerations when launching products like Reels short-form videos.
The trial is expected to include testimonies from Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri and is scheduled to span six weeks. Meta’s stock experienced a decline during the trial proceedings, closing down by 4.4% at $543.67.
Critics, including Mary Rodee, whose son’s tragic death was linked to social media, expressed their discontent outside the courthouse as the trial began. The lawsuit originated in 2023, following whistleblower Frances Haugen’s revelations to a U.S. Senate committee about Meta’s knowledge of product risks for children. Previous legal actions against Meta, such as the recent $567 million settlement in New Mexico, highlight the growing concerns over social media platforms’ impact on mental health.
Tennessee’s attorney general has also filed a similar lawsuit against Meta, with a trial currently ongoing in Nashville.