Meta faces 29-state US trial over child addiction claims

TL;DR: Meta denied claims that it designed Facebook and Instagram to addict children as a trial brought by 29 US states began in federal court in Oakland, California. The lawsuit, originally filed in October 2023, alleges Meta used features including recommendation algorithms, Stories, push notifications, infinite scroll, and short-form video to drive compulsive use among young users. The states also allege Meta violated COPPA, the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, by collecting data from users under 13 without parental consent.

Meta denied allegations that it deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young users as a trial brought by 29 US states began in an Oakland federal court. Reuters reported California deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill told the jury that Meta sought to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public”, and said the approach “worked especially well for kids”.

The lawsuit was originally filed in October 2023 and is being led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The states accuse Meta of driving compulsive engagement among children through personalised recommendation algorithms, ephemeral content including Stories, push notifications, infinite scroll, and short-form video content. The complaint also alleges Meta misled the public about platform risks and violated consumer protection laws.

The states further allege Meta violated COPPA, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, by collecting personal data from users under the age of 13 without parental consent despite knowing children were using its platforms. Reuters reported former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar testified that “safety was not a consideration” when Instagram Reels was initially deployed. Meta attorney Paul Schmidt said some users struggle but argued research showed no clear link between teen social media use and reduced wellbeing. Meta said penalties could reach $1.4 trillion, while state attorneys general estimated a figure closer to $200 billion.

Related questions

• What do the 29 US states allege Meta did on Facebook and Instagram?
• When was the lawsuit against Meta originally filed?
• Which product features are cited in the case against Meta?
• What does the lawsuit allege about Meta and COPPA compliance?