States v. Meta: The landmark case that could change social media
Several attorneys general allege Meta deliberately created addictive features for children and violated federal privacy laws.
WASHINGTON —
A federal trial is underway in California, where attorneys general from several states are suing tech giant Meta, accusing the company of designing addictive features on its social media platforms for children.
The lawsuit, which includes attorneys general from states like California and Kentucky, claims that Meta knowingly implemented features such as instant notifications, “like” buttons, beauty filters, and video autoplay to keep kids engaged on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
“These are design features that Meta and other big tech companies have created to keep kids online longer. And again, the longer they stay online, the more money the company makes,” Danny Weiss, chief advocacy officer at Common Sense Media, said.
The lawsuit also alleges that Meta collected data on children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal privacy laws.
Meta has denied the allegations, stating that it has already introduced several safety tools to protect young users. The company also argues that its algorithms are protected under the First Amendment and that federal law shields it from liability for harm caused by third-party users posting on its platforms.
The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks and will feature testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, as well as other executives and former employees.
Experts suggest that parents concerned about their children’s social media use should engage in open conversations with their kids about what they find interesting online, avoid judgment, and learn how platforms and parental controls work to protect them better.
Watch the latest coverage on the federal trial in California:
