‘Meta needed kids’: Tech giant on trial over social media addiction
The trial will address claims by US states that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young children and teenagers and harmed their mental health.
A trial is underway in California to determine whether Meta intentionally designed its Facebook and Instagram apps to be addictive to children. The case, brought by a group of attorneys general from 29 US states, alleges that Meta's platforms have harmed the mental health of young users. The states claim that Meta collected and used children's personal data improperly, violating federal law.
According to CBS News, opening arguments began on Tuesday in this landmark trial. The plaintiffs are seeking financial damages, with estimates ranging from $200 billion to $1.4 trillion, as well as changes to Meta's platforms, including age restrictions and the elimination of features like "infinite scroll."
Meta has defended its record, stating that the states' claims are "unsubstantiated" and that it has strong protections for teens. The company characterized the litigation as a "chase for an outlandish payout" rather than a factual or legal challenge.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Sydney Morning Herald, CBS News, PYMNTS — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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