US: Meta hooked children, prosecutors say, as trial over social media harm begins
Four US states have taken Meta to court, accusing the social media giant of deliberately making Facebook and Instagram addictive for children. Meta has denied the charges.
In a landmark trial beginning in a California federal court, Meta is accused of intentionally exploiting and hooking children on its social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook. Four US states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, argue that Meta misled the public about the safety of its apps and deliberately designed them to be addictive for minors.
The states are seeking around $200 billion in damages and demanding significant platform changes. The trial, which will last six to eight weeks, is considered a pivotal moment for the social media industry, dubbed "the big tobacco moment" by experts. Former Meta employee and expert witness Arturo Bejar testified that during Facebook's early days, the primary goal was rapid product deployment, often prioritizing speed over safety and security considerations.
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