'They knew': US states accuse Meta of hiding Instagram's impact on teenagers

In a federal court in Oakland, California, 29 US states have accused Meta of concealing research that allegedly demonstrated Instagram could be addictive for teenagers, according to The Guardian. The lawsuit, filed in October 2023, marks the beginning of a major legal battle expected to last six to eight weeks. The states argue Meta deliberately designed Instagram and Facebook features to keep young users engaged, despite knowing these features could jeopardize their mental health.

Megan O'Neill, deputy attorney general for California, asserted Meta failed to act despite being aware of the risks. She highlighted documents stating, "the young ones are the best ones," and "Teens are hooked despite how it makes them feel. Instagram is addictive." These allegations further claim that Meta collected data from children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal and state laws.

The states claim Meta is unwilling to discard harmful features and is focused on maximizing financial gains. If found liable, Meta could face up to $200 billion in damages and is required to make changes to its products to ensure safety for children. Meta has denied these allegations, arguing that the documents presented by the states were selectively quoted and taken out of context.