BOSTON – The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that Meta Platforms must respond to a lawsuit proposed by the state’s attorney general, who claims the company engineered its Instagram platform to create addictive habits among children.
In a significant decision, the court assessed whether federal protections shielding internet companies from lawsuits over user-generated content extend to allegations of knowingly fostering addiction among younger users. Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt, speaking for the unanimous court, emphasized that this case does not intend to hold Meta accountable for users’ content, which is typically protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Instead, it focuses on the company’s actions.
Wendlandt stated that the lawsuit alleges harm stemming from Meta’s own practices, claiming the platform exploits children’s developmental weaknesses and misleads consumers concerning safety on Instagram.
‘MAJOR STEP’ IN ACCOUNTABILITY
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, a Democrat, praised the ruling as a pivotal moment for accountability, highlighting the harmful practices that contribute to the youth mental health crisis.
Meta, which is also the parent company of Facebook, did not immediately provide a statement regarding the court’s decision but has denied the allegations, asserting their commitment to user safety, especially for teenagers.
This lawsuit is one of many, with various individuals and organizations across the country targeting Meta and other social media platforms for supposedly creating addictive environments for young users.
This ruling comes on the heels of a trial where a jury in Los Angeles found both Meta and Google’s Alphabet negligent, awarding $6 million to a young woman who reported addiction to social media as a child.
Earlier, another jury determined that Meta owed $375 million in penalties in a case led by New Mexico’s attorney general, accusing the company of misleading users about the safety of its platforms and facilitating child exploitation.
Thirty-four states are concurrently pursuing similar cases against Meta. Campbell’s case is one of at least nine such lawsuits filed by state attorneys general since 2023, which includes another one recently filed in Iowa.
The lawsuit drew attention due to claims that CEO Mark Zuckerberg had minimized concerns regarding Instagram’s potential risks to users. Specific features of the platform, like push notifications, user post “likes,” and infinite scrolling were highlighted as tools that exploit teenagers’ psychological vulnerabilities and their fear of missing out.
Massachusetts officials contend that internal evidence indicated the platform’s detrimental effects on youth, alleging that higher-ups disregarded suggested modifications to enhance teenagers’ well-being.
Meta, based in Menlo Park, California, had attempted to dismiss the Massachusetts case by citing Section 230, but a trial court judge denied this motion, leading to the appeal.
