Meta denies hooking kids on Facebook, Instagram as trial begins

Meta Platforms is on trial in a landmark case where 29 U.S. states accuse the tech giant of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to foster addiction among children and adolescents. The trial, taking place in a federal court in Oakland, California, represents the most significant legal challenge to the company regarding its alleged practices of "hooking" underage users, which plaintiffs argue can lead to addictive behaviors and cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death in extreme cases.

Plaintiffs also accuse Meta of violating federal law through the improper collection and use of minors' personal data. During the trial's opening, Meta's attorney, Paul Schmidt, vehemently denied the accusations, urging the jury to maintain an open mind. He highlighted the company's initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of the 20% of teenagers who report feeling worse after using Instagram, according to a company survey. Schmidt also pointed to Meta's efforts to prevent users under 13 from accessing its platforms, noting the removal of 600,000 such accounts in the past three months.

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When it came time to make a decision, choose what is safe for children or choose what is safe for their profits, time and time again, profits won

California's Deputy Attorney General, Megan O’Neill, speaking for the plaintiffs, asserted that Meta "hid the truth" and consistently chose profits over child safety. "When it came time to make a decision, choose what is safe for children or choose what is safe for their profits, time and time again, profits won," she stated. The trial also heard testimony from Arturo Bejar, a former Meta employee, who claimed he alerted senior company officials to the "harms people were suffering due to the way" Instagram was designed and that these harms were preventable.

Plaintiffs, including state attorneys general like Rob Bonta of California, Phil Weiser of Colorado, and Jennifer Davenport of New Jersey, are seeking to modify Meta's business practices. They aim to stop the company from "lying and deceiving the public" and to implement changes in platform features that encourage obsessive, excessive, and compulsive behaviors, which Meta was allegedly aware of. The plaintiffs are confident that their case will succeed and lead to significant changes in how these platforms operate.

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the harms people were suffering due to the way" Instagram was designed