Jury selection has begun in a federal trial in Oakland, California, where Meta faces allegations that its social media platforms are designed to be addictive for young users. The lawsuit, filed in October 2023 by a bipartisan coalition of 29 state attorneys general, accuses Meta, the parent company of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, of harnessing "powerful and unprecedented technologies" to entice and engage children and teens.
Attorneys general from California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Kentucky are leading the case. They contend that features such as infinite scrolling and push notifications were intentionally designed to keep young users on the platforms for extended periods. The lawsuit also alleges that Meta violated a federal online privacy law by collecting personal data from underage users without parental consent.
Meta has strongly denied these claims, with a company spokesperson stating that the allegations are "unsubstantiated." The company argues that the states have presented no proof that anyone was misled and that features like having an additional Instagram account do not constitute harm. Meta also claims the states are attempting to penalize the company for industry-wide challenges such as age verification.
"The AGs offer no proof anyone in their states was misled, claim benign features like having an additional Instagram account somehow harmed their residents, and attempt to penalize Meta for industry-wide challenges like age verification," the spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. The company is pushing back against claims that its platforms harm users, asserting that its financial demands are "vastly disproportionate" and that the states are seeking an "outlandish payout."
The states are seeking modifications to Meta's apps for users under 18, proposing the removal of features like infinite scrolling, video auto-play, and "like" counts. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin next Tuesday, with the trial expected to last seven weeks. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri may be called to testify.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who spearheaded the initial filing, stated that protecting children from harm is a primary responsibility. He asserted that Meta "designed a dangerous product for young users, knew it to be dangerous, and then lied to children, families, and the community about how dangerous it was." He added, "We are ready to hold Meta accountable for its role in fueling the mental health crisis of American children and look forward to trial."
This trial follows recent legal developments for Meta. Last week, a judge in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $567 million and implement app changes, citing the platforms' contribution to a youth mental health crisis. Meta has announced its intention to appeal this decision.
Earlier this year, a jury in Los Angeles found Meta and Google (owner of YouTube) negligent for designing apps that harmed a young woman. The jury determined that features like auto-scrolling, recommendation algorithms, and notifications on Meta and YouTube's platforms contributed to her developing anxiety and depression during her teenage years. Meta and Google have stated they will appeal that verdict, with Meta maintaining confidence in its record of protecting teens online.