Meta's Social Media Hook: Court Battles Over Kids' Screen Time Addiction

A major trial has started in Oakland, California, where Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is being accused of making their social media platforms too attractive for children. Lawyers from several US states, including California and New York, are saying that Meta did not do enough to keep kids under 13 off their apps. They claim that Meta knew millions of 11 and 12-year-olds were using Instagram, but did not take strong action to stop them. Meta, on the other hand, says the number of underage users was much smaller, around 100,000, and argues that there is no such thing as social media addiction.

The states are also saying that Meta was aware that using Facebook and Instagram could hurt teenagers' mental health. They say Meta's own research showed that some teens felt worse after using Instagram, but Meta did not share this information with the public. Instead, Meta told everyone that their platforms were safe for kids. The states want Meta to pay billions of dollars and to make big changes, like removing the 'like' button and stopping the endless scrolling feature that keeps people on the app for a long time.

During the trial, California's lawyer Megan O'Neill showed the jury many documents from Meta, including emails and research reports. One report said that teens felt like they could not stop using Instagram, and another said that features designed to keep people on the app longer were not good for their well-being. O'Neill argued that Meta cared more about making money than about keeping kids safe. She said Meta's business plan was to get users hooked, keep them on the app, collect their data, and not tell the truth about the risks.

Meta's lawyer, Paul Schmidt, responded by saying that the same research also showed that 41 percent of teens felt better after using Instagram, and another 41 percent felt no different. He said Meta did not design their apps to be addictive and that privacy laws made it hard for Meta to check the age of every user. Schmidt also said that there is no scientific proof that social media addiction exists. He pointed out that Meta has created tools to help people use social media in a healthy way, and that company leaders like Mark Zuckerberg have said the apps were not meant to be addictive.

The trial will continue for several weeks, with both sides presenting their arguments. The outcome could lead to big changes in how social media companies operate, especially when it comes to protecting young users. The court will have to decide if Meta did enough to keep kids safe and if they should be forced to change their platforms and pay a large fine.