In recent years, Meta has consistently faced legal challenges in court. Various courts have determined that Meta’s social media platforms harm young users.
Now, a jury trial set to begin on Tuesday could become Meta’s biggest legal challenge to date. In 2023, 30 US states, including California and New York, filed a lawsuit against Meta. Hearings related to this case are scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
These states accuse Meta of violating federal and state laws concerning children and jeopardizing their privacy. The states are seeking over $1 trillion in damages from Meta. They also demand various changes to Facebook and Instagram, including removing “like” counts and ending features that encourage continuous user scrolling.
If Meta loses this significant case, the social media experience for young people could change dramatically.
The states filing the lawsuit demand operational system changes to make Facebook and Instagram safer for underage users and children. The states are primarily demanding the following changes:
- Implement parental verification for teenage users.
- Modify algorithms to prevent users from continuous scrolling for hours.
- Remove certain image filters that alter a person’s appearance.
- Eliminate the ‘autoplay’ feature for video content.
- Prohibit the creation of more than one account.
- Discontinue features like Instagram Stories that involve disappearing or temporary posts.
All these features are crucial parts of Meta’s social media platforms. The states allege that such features are designed to keep children, teenagers, and other users on the platform for as long as possible.
The states claim that Meta’s apps, through notifications and other means, repeatedly compel young people to return to the platforms. Their allegations state that Meta exploited youth by targeting children and expanded its user base and business by keeping them engaged on its platforms. Meta’s current market value is reportedly around $1.5 trillion.
Meta has consistently denied these allegations. A company spokesperson stated in a press release, “We completely disagree with these allegations and are confident that the evidence will demonstrate our long-standing commitment to supporting young people.”
Meta Fined Approximately $940 Million in New Mexico
The states will present their claims before Chief Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California. She also presided over the high-profile case between Elon Musk and Sam Altman.
Meanwhile, a recent ruling against Meta in New Mexico imposed a fine of approximately $942 million on the company. It also ordered certain changes to its social media platforms, similar to those demanded by the 30 states.
Judge Bryan Biedscheid ordered Meta to remove “like” counts for users under 18 on Instagram and Facebook, prohibit teenagers from sending nude content via the platforms, and limit app push notifications outside of specific hours. He also described Meta as a “public nuisance,” comparing the impact of social media platforms to factories polluting the air and severely affecting people. Meta has announced its intention to appeal this ruling.
Unlike the New Mexico order, which applies only within that state, if the 30 states win their separate lawsuit against Meta, the company would likely have to implement changes across its platforms nationwide. The 30 states involved in this lawsuit represent approximately two-thirds of the US population.
Allegations of ‘Likes’ Impacting Youth Mental Health
If Meta is compelled to implement the demanded changes, it could significantly alter how users interact with Facebook and Instagram.
“Like” counts have been a crucial part of Facebook since its early days. Today, likes are a primary way to react to online posts, photos, and videos on social media. However, concerns have recently grown, particularly among young people, that “likes” can foster negative emotions.
Earlier this year, a young user named Cali achieved success in a lawsuit against Meta. Testifying in court, she stated that she had created dozens of accounts on YouTube and Instagram. She explained that she used various accounts to get more likes on her posts and connect with other users, which gave her a sense of satisfaction and self-esteem. At the time, she was only nine years old. She also recalled a period when she struggled with depression.
Various studies in recent years have shown that social media engagement metrics like “like” counts can increase feelings of rejection and depression in adolescents.
States Claim Meta’s Own Research Raised Questions
In the lawsuit filed by the 30 states against Meta, the company stated it had provided over 2 million documents.
