The landmark trial on Meta’s impact on children’s mental health has begun in the US, with 29 states jointly bringing a lawsuit against the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, Meta – the company’s popularity with young users centers on its social media apps. The trial, expected to last several weeks, commenced in Colorado, California, New Jersey, and Kentucky, arguing that Meta’s platforms were designed to harm young users’ mental health. The coalition is seeking to challenge Meta’s practices, alleging that the company harvested user data, particularly concerning children under the age of 13, and concealed this information from the public. The case, initially filed in 2023, alleges that Meta intentionally engineered its apps to hook users, facilitate excessive use, and potentially manipulate the mental well-being of young users. The lawsuit also accuses Meta of violating federal law by collecting children’s data without proper oversight. The coalition’s claims extend beyond mere data collection; they contend Meta’s practices may have contributed to increased rates of anxiety and depression amongst young people. Megan O’Neill, a Deputy California Attorney General, stated that the company’s product design prioritized user engagement, often at the expense of teenagers’ well-being. She added that Meta’s focus on engagement resulted in the company collecting data on children under 13, a violation of federal law, as the lawsuit alleges. Meta has defended its practices, asserting that it has taken steps to protect teenagers, including launching Instagram Teen Accounts and a feature allowing parents to set time limits. A Meta spokesperson echoed this stance, stating that the state’s claims are unsubstantiated and that the company stands by its record of creating strong safety measures, including the launch of Instagram Teen Accounts and a feature that limits underage users’ contact with the platform. The State AGs are expected to call this a pivotal case, but their limited claims are unsubstantiated, and their financial demands are vastly disproportionate, according to Stephanie Otway, Meta’s spokesperson. The AGs offer no proof that anyone was misled, claiming benign features like an additional Instagram account somehow harmed their residents, and attempting to penalize Meta for industry-wide challenges like age verification. The potential impact on Meta’s bottom line is existential; the company could face fines as high as $1.4 trillion, which is less than its $1.5 trillion market capitalization, however, the coalition is seeking fines of roughly $200 billion. Meta has already been ordered to pay $942 million in New Mexico lawsuits, including $375 million in civil penalties and $567 million ordered by a judge earlier this month. Meta has acknowledged that lawsuits could lead to “substantial monetary damages or fines” in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing in January. Meta has also indicated it could face significant repercussions on Wall Street, with the social media giant’s stock plummeting more than 3% in midday trading. The coalition of states is seeking changes to Meta’s platforms, including age restrictions and a reduction in the infinite scroll feature, aiming to mitigate the potential harm to young users’ mental health. The case’s impetus came from a US Senate hearing in 2021, when whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former data scientist at Facebook, claimed that the company knowingly pushed products that could impact the health of young users as the Mark Zuckerberg-led company pursued higher profits. Meta has repeatedly attempted to end the coalition lawsuit, including in 2024 and as recently as June, when it sought summary judgement – a decision that a court might make without going to trial – which would have ended the lawsuit. The case is impacting Meta’s stock. The coalition of states is asking Meta to make changes to its platforms, including introducing new age restrictions and cutting the infinite scroll feature, aiming to mitigate the potential harm to young users’ mental health. The case’s impetus came from a US Senate committee hearing in 2021, when whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former data scientist at Facebook, claimed that the company knowingly pushed products that could impact the health of young users as the Mark Zuckerberg-led company pursued higher profits. The case is impacting Meta’s stock.”}”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Source: Al Jazeera
