‘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 and teenagers. The trial addresses claims by US states that Meta's platforms harmed the mental health of young users.
According to the states, Meta's design features, such as "infinite scroll," contributed to the alleged addiction. The states also accuse Meta of improperly collecting and using children's personal data, violating federal law.
Meta has defended its record, stating that the states' claims are "unsubstantiated" and that it has strong protections for teens. The company characterizes the litigation as a "chase for an outlandish payout" rather than a factual or legal challenge.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, CBS News, PYMNTS — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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