US states accuse Meta of hiding research on teen social media addiction

Lawyers representing 29 U.S. states have accused Meta Platforms of deliberately hiding internal research that demonstrated Instagram's addictive impact on teenagers. During the opening day of a significant legal challenge in Oakland, California, they argued that the company was aware of its products' harm to children but withheld this information from the public.

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I heard from many of you at jury selection that the health and wellbeing of kids is a shared responsibility. Meta didn’t do its share.

Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, stated in her opening remarks, “I heard from many of you at jury selection that the health and wellbeing of kids is a shared responsibility. Meta didn’t do its share.” She indicated that the trial would feature witness testimony and internal documents uncovered during the investigation, referencing company statements like “the young ones are the best ones” and “Teens are hooked despite how it makes them feel. Instagram is addictive.” O’Neill concluded, “They knew. Time and again, profits won.”

The lawsuit contends that Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, intentionally designed addictive products to attract young people and negatively affect their mental health. The 233-page complaint, initially filed in October 2023, alleges that Meta unlawfully collects data from children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal and state laws. The lawmakers assert that Meta “refuses to abandon its use of known harmful features,” driven solely by profit to “maximize its financial gains.”

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the young ones are the best ones

The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, with testimony anticipated from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, and former employee whistleblower Arturo Béjar. If found liable, Meta could face damages up to $200 billion, an amount equivalent to its projected 2025 annual revenue. The states are also seeking product design changes to enhance child safety, which could have long-term implications beyond financial penalties.

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Teens are hooked despite how it makes them feel. Instagram is addictive.

Meta denies all allegations. Paul Schmidt, a lawyer for Meta, argued that the presented internal documents were taken out of context and selectively chosen from longer discussions. He stated that Meta has conducted numerous studies on young users with the objective of understanding how to "support teens in this space."

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They knew. Time and again, profits won.