Meta Accused in US Court of Hooking Children on Facebook and Instagram

A major legal battle has commenced in Oakland, California, where Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, stands accused of intentionally cultivating addiction among young users. The trial, expected to last six weeks, will see legal teams from numerous US states present evidence against the tech giant.

Attorneys for California allege that Meta was aware of millions of children, some as young as 11 and 12, using Instagram and did little to prevent it. This claim was met with a counter-argument from Meta’s representatives, who stated that only around 100,000 underage users were identified and questioned the very existence of social media addiction.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by 29 states, asserts that Meta has repeatedly violated federal and state privacy laws concerning children. The states are seeking billions of dollars in damages and are demanding significant changes to Instagram and Facebook, such as the removal of ‘like’ counts and infinite scrolling features.

Opening arguments relied heavily on Meta’s internal documents, including research, emails, and chat logs. One internal Instagram report highlighted stated that “Teens have an addict’s narrative about use.” Another document suggested that “product features designed to increase time spent are inherently at odds with well-being.” Despite this internal knowledge, the prosecution argues Meta actively targeted young users while publicly assuring them of the platforms’ safety.

Meta’s defense countered these points, citing documents that showed a more balanced view of Instagram’s impact, with 41% of teens reporting it made them feel better and another 41% reporting no effect, compared to 1 in 5 feeling worse. Meta’s legal team also argued that privacy laws, ironically the ones they are accused of violating, have hindered their ability to effectively track underage users. They reiterated Meta’s stance that social media addiction is not a scientifically recognized condition, pointing to statements from executives that the platforms were not designed to be addictive.

This trial represents a significant legal showdown over the responsibility of social media companies in protecting young users and addressing the potential harms associated with their platforms.