Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday in a major multistate jury trial in California against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit, filed by 29 US states, alleges that Meta designed addictive social media platforms that harm the mental health of young people. If successful, the case could reportedly cost Meta $1.4 trillion in damages.
The first four states to file the federal lawsuit in 2023 – California, Kentucky, Colorado, and New Jersey – will present their cases. The attorneys general claim that Meta's platforms encourage addictive behavior, fail to verify users' ages, and inadequately safeguard against harmful content.
Beyond damages, the plaintiffs are seeking court-ordered changes to Meta's platforms, including parental verification for teens, modification of "dopamine-manipulating" algorithms, removal of image filters, and an end to disappearing messages. Meta strongly denies all allegations.
The trial is expected to last about seven weeks, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram's head expected to testify. This marks Zuckerberg's second court appearance this year, following a February hearing in Los Angeles over similar allegations.
Experts suggest the case could significantly alter how social media platforms operate. Sonia Livingstone, a professor at the London School of Economics, noted that while Meta is unlikely to completely transform its business model, it will likely take steps to reduce harm. The 5Rights Foundation emphasized that lawsuits can change tech company practices if backed by clear, enforced rules.
This is not the only legal challenge Meta faces in the US. A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million and change platform functions for young users earlier this month. Another 14 states are set to begin a separate trial in February 2027.
Internationally, the EU has opened investigations into Meta under the Digital Services Act, accusing it of designing addictive features. The UK plans to ban social media for under-16s, while Australia's ban has proven ineffective, with over 80% of teens still using platforms.
Brazil and Kenya are also pursuing legal actions against Meta. The company faces lawsuits over algorithmic amplification of harmful content and exploitative working conditions. Experts predict that while platforms won't be eliminated, legal pressure will force reforms, including stricter age verification and design changes.
Source: www.aljazeera.com