Oakland, California: Meta has come under its biggest legal challenge yet over allegations that it deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to keep children and teenagers engaged on its platforms, despite knowing about potential risks to their mental health.
A jury in Oakland, California, has begun hearing arguments in a trial expected to last six weeks. The case involves attorneys representing several US states and lawyers defending Meta.
During opening arguments, Megan O’Neill, a lead attorney for California, accused Meta of knowing that large numbers of children aged 11 and 12 were using Instagram while doing little to prevent them from accessing the platform.
O’Neill told the jury that Meta’s own internal research raised concerns about the impact of its products on young users. The Attorney referred to millions of documents disclosed during the case, including internal studies, employee communications and discussions involving senior executives.
One internal study described teenagers as having what it called an ‘addict’s narrative’ around their use of Instagram. Another document reportedly acknowledged that some features designed to increase the amount of time people spend on the platforms could conflict with their wellbeing.
California’s attorney argued that Meta’s public assurances about the safety of its platforms for children differed significantly from what its internal research revealed. She also alleged that the company prioritised engagement and profits over user wellbeing.
Meta disputed several of the states’ claims. Paul Schmidt, a lead attorney for the company, challenged the interpretation of Meta’s internal research, noting that while one in five teenagers reportedly said Instagram made them feel worse, 41 percent noted that it made them feel better, and another 41 percent added that it had no effect.
Meta also rejected allegations that it deliberately made its platforms addictive or intentionally encouraged children to use them. The company argued that verifying the age of every user was complicated by privacy laws that restricted the collection and retention of certain information.
Schmidt further argued that there is no established research proving that social media addiction exists. He pointed to previous comments from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri stating that the platforms were not designed to be addictive.
The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by a coalition of 29 US states, including California and New York. The states allege that Meta violated federal and state laws protecting children’s privacy and are seeking billions of dollars in damages and changes to the company’s platforms.
Among the proposed changes are restrictions on features such as public “like” counts and infinite scrolling. The case is expected to examine Meta’s internal research, product decisions and approach to protecting young users throughout the trial.
The trial is expected to put Meta’s policies, internal research and approach to child safety under intense scrutiny. Its outcome could have wider implications for how social media companies design platforms, protect young users and address concerns over children’s privacy and wellbeing.
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