Meta social media addiction trial opens

A trial has commenced in the United States that could significantly impact Meta's social media business, as the company faces allegations that its platforms were designed to addict young users. The lawsuit, brought by 29 US states, contends that Facebook and Instagram knowingly contributed to negative health outcomes for minors.

If found guilty, Meta could face billions of dollars in penalties, and the outcome may lead to substantial changes in platform design. The backlash against Meta's practices has also prompted safety measures from other tech companies, such as OpenAI, which announced it would restrict teenagers to a version of ChatGPT with enhanced mental health safeguards, following similar legal challenges over self-harm incidents.

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