'They knew': US states accuse Meta of hiding Instagram's impact on teenagers
A federal trial has begun in California where 29 US states accuse Meta of intentionally designing Instagram to be addictive to teenagers. Prosecutors allege that Meta ignored internal research regarding the negative mental health impacts of its features to prioritize financial gain.
Why it matters
This case represents a significant legal challenge regarding the responsibility of social media platforms for the mental health of young users.
Lawyers representing 29 US states on Tuesday accused Meta of hiding internal research that allegedly found Instagram could be addictive for teenagers, The Guardian reported.The allegations were made as a major legal battle against Meta began in a federal court in Oakland, California. The trial is expected to continue for six to eight weeks.According to the lawsuit, Meta of deliberately designing Instagram and Facebook features to keep young users engaged, despite knowing that some of those features could harm their mental health.Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, told the jury that Meta failed to act despite being aware of the risks.“I heard from many of you at jury selection that the health and wellbeing of kids is a shared responsibility,” O’Neill said.
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