States Sue Meta: Addictive Design Hurts Children

A blockbuster trial has commenced in Oakland, California, where California and 28 other US states are suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The states allege that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive, leading to harm among child users and violating federal child privacy laws. Attorneys for the states argued Meta's business model involves 'hooking' users, 'holding' them, 'harvesting' data, and 'hiding' the truth, with particular effectiveness among children. The lawsuit seeks to hold Meta accountable for allegedly collecting data on children under 13 without parental consent and for designing products that negatively impact young users. If found liable, Meta could face damages as high as $200 billion, an amount equivalent to its projected 2025 annual revenue. States are also demanding product redesigns to enhance child safety. Meta has denied the allegations, with a spokesperson stating the lawsuit is an attempt to 'chase an outlandish payout.' The company argues it has tools to address social media struggles and prohibits users under 13. Testimony from former Meta employee Arturo Béjar highlighted concerns about child safety, including instances of unwanted advances and ineffectiveness of reporting mechanisms on Instagram. An email Béjar sent to CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2021 showed that 51% of teens reported harmful experiences on Instagram, with content removal occurring only 0.02% of the time, yet Zuckerberg did not respond. The trial, expected to last six to eight weeks, is being led by attorneys from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The jury's role is advisory, with the judge making the final decision on the verdict and damages.