Meta accused of targeting children to boost Facebook and Instagram use, as US trial begins

Meta Platforms is accused of targeting children to increase usage of Facebook and Instagram, according to a lawyer representing California at the start of a trial. The US trial, involving 29 states, seeks penalties and changes to the company's business practices. Four lead states claim Meta designed its apps to hook young users, causing anxiety, depression, and suicide, while misleading consumers about safety.

Megan O'Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, told the jury that Meta's business model is to "hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public." Meta's lawyer, Paul Schmidt, argues that the company wants to improve its services, not make them dangerous. If found liable, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers could impose penalties and require changes to Facebook and Instagram.

Meta has said it has made efforts to keep kids safe online, and the trial may set a precedent for social media's impact on young users.