A major trial has commenced regarding a large-scale lawsuit filed by 29 US states against "Meta" in 2023.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, prosecutors in the trial, which is scheduled to last six weeks, accuse "Meta" of violating laws protecting children's privacy and endangering the mental health of young people through its social media platforms.
In addition to seeking billions of dollars in damages, the states are demanding that "Meta" modify or remove features such as "like" counts and "infinite scroll," which are alleged to cause users to spend excessive time on the "Instagram" and "Facebook" platforms.
Megan O'Neill, an attorney representing California, cited "Meta"'s internal research during the proceedings. She stated that although the company was aware that millions of 11 and 12-year-olds were on its platforms, it failed to take sufficient measures to protect them.
The prosecution claims that "Meta"'s internal documents contain troubling findings regarding youth usage of the platforms. The documents reportedly note that one in five young people reported that using "Instagram" made them feel worse, and that for some users, the platform exhibits addictive characteristics.
"Meta" denies the allegations. The company's lead attorney, Paul Schmidt, argued that the internal documents were taken out of context and that the presented information does not fully reflect the company's position.
Schmidt emphasized in court that 41 percent of the young people participating in the study reported feeling better after using the platform, while another 41 percent observed no negative effects.
The company's attorney also argued that social media addiction has not been scientifically proven. According to him, the restrictions "Meta" applies to identify the age of users under 13 also impact the company's data collection capabilities.
Previous statements by Mark Zuckerberg and "Instagram" head Adam Mosseri were also cited in court. The company leadership maintains that the platforms were not designed to create addiction among users.
The outcome of the trial could have a significant impact on "Meta"'s future policies regarding the safety of children and teenagers on its "Instagram" and "Facebook" platforms.
