Meta meets its own 'tobacco' moment as jury selection kicks off trial

U.S. jury selection began on Wednesday in a California courtroom where Meta, the company behind Instagram and Facebook, will defend itself against allegations of causing harm to children. This trial is described as the social media industry's version of the tobacco industry's downfall in the 1990s. Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and both sides' lawyers questioned prospective jurors about their views on social media, Meta, and its impact on mental health.

Some jurors acknowledged that social media contributes to mental health issues, comparing the "doomscrolling" experience to cocaine use. Eight jurors were selected on Wednesday to serve as advisors in the trial, with the judge making the final decisions. A coalition of states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, filed a lawsuit against Meta in 2023 for allegedly designing addictive features for children in their apps and violating state laws.

Meta strongly denies these allegations and claims to have a strong commitment to protecting young people. This trial is seen as a critical moment for the social media industry, potentially setting a powerful precedent similar to the landmark tobacco case in the 1990s when multiple U.S. states sued major tobacco companies for misleading consumers about the health risks of their products.