Key facts
- Meta faces a jury trial initiated by 30 U.S. states over alleged child privacy law violations.
- The states are seeking over $1 trillion in damages.
- Plaintiffs are demanding significant changes to Instagram and Facebook, including ending 'like' counts and autoplay videos.
- Meta denies the allegations and asserts its commitment to young users' well-being.
- A prior ruling in New Mexico declared Meta a 'public nuisance' and ordered platform modifications.
Meta is set to face a significant jury trial beginning Tuesday, initiated by 30 U.S. states, including California and New York. The lawsuit alleges numerous violations of federal and state privacy laws concerning young users. The states are seeking over $1 trillion in damages and are demanding fundamental changes to the operations of Instagram and Facebook. These proposed changes include ending 'like' counts, infinite scroll, and altering "dopamine-manipulating recommendation algorithms." Other demands involve implementing parental verification for teenage users, removing image filters, prohibiting autoplay videos, and ending ephemeral posts.
The states contend that these features are designed to maximize user engagement, particularly among children and teenagers, to expand Meta's business. They argue that Meta has exploited young users to hook them onto its platforms. Meta has consistently denied these claims, with a company spokeswoman stating they "strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people."
This trial is presided over by Chief Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California. A recent ruling in New Mexico by Judge Bryan Biedscheid fined Meta $942 million and ordered similar changes, declaring the company a "public nuisance." While that order applied only to New Mexico, a victory for the 30 states in this separate lawsuit would likely compel Meta to enact nationwide platform changes. Meta has stated it will appeal the New Mexico ruling.
Internal Meta research cited in the lawsuit suggests that features like 'like' counts contribute to social comparison, leading to increased loneliness, worse body image, and negative moods among young people. The lawsuit frames Meta's operational practices over the past decade as a contributing factor to a growing youth mental health crisis.