If Meta loses this trial, Instagram and Facebook could change forever
Thirty US states have sued Meta to force an overhaul of its platforms for young users.
A multi-state lawsuit against Meta could potentially reshape the way young people engage with social media platforms Instagram and Facebook. Thirty US states, including high-profile states like California and New York, are demanding significant changes from Meta following claims of privacy violations and harmful practices targeting minors.
Should Meta lose this trial, it could face requests to abolish like counts, end the infinite scroll feature, remove appearance-altering filters, and discontinue ephemeral posts. These features, integral to the current user experience, are said to keep users, particularly teenagers and children, on the platforms for extended periods.
The states argue Meta encourages this behavior, exploiting young users to expand its user base and business. The lawsuit highlights research suggesting that engagement metrics like likes can exacerbate mental health issues among teenagers. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, presiding over the case, has previously fined Meta for similar violations and deemed the company a "public nuisance," likening its operations to a factory polluting the air.
If Meta loses and is compelled to make these changes nationwide, it would represent a radical shift in its platforms' user experience.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
