US states accuse Meta of covering up research on teen social media addiction in pivotal trial
State attorneys general claim tech company intentionally designed addictive products that harm young people
TL;DR
- 29 US states are suing Meta, accusing the company of hiding internal research about Instagram's addictive nature for teenagers.
- Attorneys general allege Meta deliberately designed addictive products that harm children's mental health, prioritizing profits over well-being.
- Internal documents cited suggest Meta knew teens were 'hooked' and that 'the young ones are the best ones'.
- The lawsuit claims Meta violates federal and state laws by collecting data on children under 13 without parental permission.
- If found liable, Meta could face damages up to $200 billion and be required to alter its product designs.
- Meta denies the allegations, stating the documents were taken out of context and that the company takes steps to protect young users.
- The legal strategy is compared to lawsuits against tobacco companies in the 1990s, aiming for both financial penalties and changes in business practices.
- This trial is part of a broader trend of thousands of lawsuits against social media companies regarding their impact on children.