Key facts
- Tennessee attorneys allege Meta ignored internal research on Instagram's negative impact on teen mental health to maximize profits.
- The state claims Meta intentionally kept features like autoplay and infinite scroll to increase teen engagement and ad views.
- Meta's defense argues the company is transparent about risks and actively works to identify and resolve issues.
- The lawsuit seeks financial penalties and court-ordered changes to Instagram's platform.
- A previous jury in New Mexico found Meta liable and ordered $375 million in penalties.
Attorneys for Tennessee argued in a Nashville jury trial that Meta Platforms leadership disregarded internal research highlighting Instagram's detrimental effects on teenagers, including issues like eating disorders, depression, and self-harm, in pursuit of profit. During opening statements, state lawyers presented evidence suggesting Meta was aware that features such as autoplay, notifications, and infinite scroll were designed to maximize user engagement and ad views among young people.
Conversely, Meta's legal team asserted that the company has been forthright about the risks associated with its platforms and the prevalence of harmful content. They contended that Meta actively seeks out and addresses problems to improve its services and that protecting teens online is a shared responsibility involving parents and educators.
The lawsuit, initiated by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office, aims to secure financial penalties and compel Instagram to alter platform features deemed harmful to adolescent mental health. If the jury finds Meta liable, a second phase of the trial will determine the specific penalties and modifications required.
State lawyer Tom Cartmell emphasized the addictive nature of platform features, likening notification sounds to dopamine triggers particularly impactful on developing adolescent brains. He presented an internal 2017 Meta document where product managers acknowledged that features like notifications and infinite scroll were "inherently at odds with well-being" and that the public needed to be warned, a warning that Cartmell stated never materialized.
Meta's lawyer, Kevin Huff, framed such internal documents as evidence of the company's commitment to identifying and rectifying issues. He suggested a collective responsibility is necessary for protecting teens online.
Tennessee's case is the second state-level trial to reach a jury. Earlier this year, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable and ordered the company to pay $375 million, with a judge currently deciding on further penalties and platform changes.