Washington (Web Desk) — 29 US states have filed a lawsuit against Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, accusing the company of making young people addicted to social media and harming their mental health. The trial began on August 18 in a federal court in California.
The proceedings are expected to continue for six to eight weeks. The attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the legal team. The lawsuit was filed in October 2023 through a 233-page complaint.
State officials allege that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram in ways that encouraged children and teenagers to spend as much time as possible on the platforms. Features such as unlimited content, constant notifications and other tools designed to maintain users’ attention were introduced for this purpose.
The lawsuit also alleges that Meta obtained data from children under the age of 13 without parental permission, violating state and federal laws. According to state attorneys, the company prioritized its financial interests over safety measures despite being aware of the potential harms of its platforms.
During the trial, testimony is also expected from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, among other key figures. The case could result in substantial financial penalties for Meta and orders requiring changes to the design of Facebook and Instagram.
Meta has rejected the states’ allegations as baseless. The company says the states lack sufficient evidence to support their claims and that their financial demands are inappropriate.
The lawsuit comes at a time when Meta suffered a major setback last week in a New Mexico case concerning the protection of children and teenagers. In that case, a court ordered the company to pay $567 million and make several changes to its platforms to protect underage users.
In lawsuits filed by state governments, authorities are seeking not only financial penalties from Meta but also changes to the design and operation of Facebook and Instagram. As a result, the current case has become an important part of ongoing legal actions against technology companies over the protection of young users.