Meta Platforms is facing one of its most significant legal challenges yet over allegations that Instagram and Facebook deliberately targeted young users and contributed to harms affecting children and teenagers.
A jury trial is due to begin on Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by 30 US states, including California and New York. The states accuse Meta of violating federal and state laws by allegedly designing its platforms in ways that encouraged children and teenagers to remain on the services for extended periods.
The states are seeking potentially more than $1 trillion in damages and are demanding sweeping changes to Instagram and Facebook, including restrictions on features such as “like” counts, infinite scrolling and personalised recommendation systems.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman described the case as the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history, accusing Meta of concealing what it knew about the potential harm its platforms could cause young users.
The states are also seeking measures including parental verification for teenage accounts, changes to recommendation algorithms, restrictions on appearance altering image filters, an end to autoplay video and limits on users creating multiple accounts.
They also want Meta to restrict disappearing content such as Instagram Stories and reduce notifications that they say are designed to draw young users back to the platforms.
The states argue that these features are central to Meta’s business model and are designed to maximise user engagement, including among children and teenagers.
Meta has rejected the allegations, saying it has a longstanding commitment to protecting young people online.
The case is being heard by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, a senior federal judge in California who has presided over several high profile technology cases.
Growing Legal Pressure on Meta
The trial comes after a series of legal setbacks for Meta involving allegations about the impact of its platforms on young users.
In a recent case in New Mexico, a judge fined Meta $942 million and ordered the company to make changes to Instagram and Facebook. The measures included removing “like” counts for users under 18, restricting the sending and receiving of nude images by teenagers and limiting push notifications during certain hours.
The judge also described Meta as a “public nuisance”, comparing the alleged effects of its platforms to pollution affecting an entire population.
Meta has said it will appeal that ruling.
The New Mexico decision applies only within that state, but a victory for the 30 states in the latest case could force Meta to introduce similar changes across the United States. The states involved represent nearly two thirds of the US population.
Focus on Young Users
At the centre of the case are allegations that Meta’s platforms can encourage harmful social comparison among young people.
Court filings have cited internal Meta research indicating that engagement features such as “like” counts could contribute to social comparison, which researchers linked to loneliness, negative mood and concerns about body image.
The states argue that Meta was aware of these risks while continuing to operate features designed to maximise engagement.
The case also follows lawsuits brought by individual users who have alleged that their use of social media contributed to mental health difficulties.
The outcome of the trial could have far reaching consequences for Meta and potentially reshape how millions of young Americans use Instagram and Facebook.
A ruling against the company could require major changes to core features of its platforms and place further pressure on technology companies to redesign social media products around the safety of children and teenagers.
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