Meta hooked children and misled public, says prosecutors

OAKLAND: A federal court heard evidence on Tuesday accusing Meta Platforms of knowingly exploiting and addicting children on Instagram and Facebook, marking a significant moment in the social media landscape. Proponents argue that the tech giant employed techniques akin to those used by the tobacco industry to ensnare young users.

California prosecutor Megan O'Neill emphasized that Meta exploited the workings of children's brains, presenting its business model as one designed to hook, retain, and harvest data from users while concealing the truth from the public. Meta's defense attorney, Paul Schmidt, conceded that some users suffered harm but claimed the company attempted to implement protective measures.

The company initially denied all allegations, stating it had collaborated with parents, experts, and law enforcement to safeguard children. The trial, expected to span six weeks and culminate in a verdict by October, marks the first of what is anticipated to be a series of lawsuits against TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging harm to the mental health of young individuals.

Meta, boasting over three billion global users, stands as the sole defendant in this case, facing penalties and demands for platform modifications to protect young users, such as screen time restrictions. Four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—along with 29 others, are leading the coalition suing Meta, alleging that the company misled the public about the dangers of its apps for minors, designed features to trap users, and collected data from children under 13 without parental consent, all in violation of federal law.

The trial's significance draws comparisons to a 1990s tobacco settlement, with experts noting that it parallels the business practices litigation against tobacco companies, which resulted in over $176 billion in penalties and changes to marketing tactics. Meta's founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, along with Instagram head Adam Mosseri, are anticipated to testify, reflecting the trial's potential to reshape social media platforms' policies similarly to the tobacco industry's regulatory overhaul.