Meta’s Legal Battle Over Social Media Addiction Claims
Meta Inc., the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg, has taken its fight to federal court against a coalition of 29 state attorneys general alleging that its platforms contribute to social media addiction among young people. The company, which manages popular apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, has described the allegations as “baseless.”
The trial is set to take place in Oakland, California, following a lawsuit initiated in October 2023 in the Northern District of California. States involved in this federal case include California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Kentucky.
The states’ complaint argues that Meta employs “powerful and unprecedented technology” designed to lure and ultimately trap young adults and teenagers on its platforms. They point to features such as infinite scrolling and push notifications, claiming these are crafted to ensure that young users remain engaged for extended periods. Additionally, the lawsuit asserts that Meta has violated federal privacy regulations by allegedly collecting personal data from young users without obtaining parental consent.
The outcome of this case could involve not only fines but also demands for changes to Meta’s applications for users under 18. This includes altering features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and displaying like counts.
Initial arguments are expected to kick off on Tuesday, August 18th, with the trial projected to last seven weeks. Figures like CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri might be called to the stand, though specific scheduling has yet to be announced.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who spearheaded the lawsuit, emphasized in a statement that protecting children from harm is one of his top priorities. He accused Meta of creating a dangerous product for young users, asserting that the company was aware of the risks and misled children and their families about those dangers. “We are ready to hold Meta accountable,” Bonta added, expressing anticipation for the trial.
A spokesperson for Meta, however, contests the allegations. They argue that the claims lack foundation, pointing out that the attorney general has not substantiated that anyone was misled or that harmless features, such as having multiple Instagram accounts, actually harmed users. They assert that the states are unfairly seeking disproportionate penalties and insist they are committed to providing robust protections for teenagers.
The potential damages in this case could be staggering, possibly reaching up to $1.4 trillion. The spokesperson reiterated their position, calling for a focus on facts and law, rather than what they perceive as exaggerated claims from the states.
This trial follows a recent ruling in New Mexico, where a judge mandated that Meta pay $567 million and implement changes to its app due to its role in a youth mental health crisis. Meta has indicated plans to appeal that decision.
In a related context, a separate landmark case in Los Angeles implicated meth as a factor in a young man’s social media addiction. A jury found both Meta and YouTube negligent in their platforms’ design, determining that their negligence significantly contributed to a 20-year-old plaintiff’s damages, linking her social media use to addiction and mental health struggles. This multimillion-dollar ruling may see punitive damages added after jurors found the companies acted with malice.
As of now, Meta and YouTube remain the only defendants in this ongoing legal situation, with TikTok and Snap having settled prior to the trial. The plaintiff, who is referred to as KGM in court documents, provided testimony alongside major tech executives, including Zuckerberg and Mosseri, who appeared as witnesses while YouTube’s CEO was not summoned to testify.
