Meta trial over social media harm to children begins

A landmark federal trial commenced in California, aiming to hold Meta accountable for alleged harm caused to children through its social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook. Four US states - California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey - are seeking approximately $200 billion in damages and demanding significant alterations to Meta's core platforms.

The lawsuit, part of a coalition of 29 states, accuses Meta of intentionally exploiting children and deceiving the public about the safety of its apps. Lawyers argue Meta collected data from children under 13 without parental consent, violating privacy laws. Opening statements commenced on Tuesday in the federal court in Oakland, near San Francisco.

California Deputy Attorney General Megan O'Neill outlined the government's case, emphasizing that Meta possessed knowledge about children's cognitive tendencies and vulnerabilities. She alleged that Meta's Instagram platform could be manipulated to exploit these weaknesses, referring to the company's internal study titled "The young ones are the best ones."

Meta's defense attorney, Paul Schmidt, countered by asserting that research showed no clear link between adolescent social media use and well-being. He claimed Meta had taken steps to develop tools to assist users experiencing negative experiences on its platforms. Former Meta employee and expert witness Arturo Bejar testified in support of the states' claims, highlighting the company's initial focus on rapid product deployment over safety. The trial is projected to last six to eight weeks, with a verdict anticipated by October.