Meta denies intentionally addicting children to social media

Meta Platforms has vehemently denied accusations that it deliberately engineered its Facebook and Instagram platforms to foster child addiction for financial gain. The tech giant faces a significant legal challenge from a bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states that have filed a lawsuit seeking substantial damages and operational changes.

The lead states – California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey – allege that Meta designed its popular social media sites to ensnare young users, exacerbating issues like anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims Meta misled consumers about the safety of its platforms. All 29 states accuse Meta of breaching federal law through the improper collection and utilization of minors' personal data.

This legal battle, unfolding in federal court in Oakland, California, is considered a major test of the impact of social media on young users. Meta, along with other major tech companies like Snap, ByteDance (TikTok's parent company), and Alphabet (Google's parent company), are confronting thousands of lawsuits from various entities over the effects of their platforms on youth.

During the proceedings, California's Deputy Attorney General Megan O'Neill argued that Meta's business model is predicated on "attracting users, keeping them on the platforms as long as possible, collecting their data, and then hiding the truth from the population." She asserted that this strategy "worked extremely well with children," as Meta "needed children and, at the same time, had to convince the adults who cared for these children that the platforms were safe."

Meta's attorney, Paul Schmidt, acknowledged that some social media users experience problems but countered that research has not established a clear causal link between adolescent social media use and diminished well-being. He also stated that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is committed to improving the company's services to ensure user safety. The jury's verdict will be advisory, with the judge ultimately determining Meta's liability.