By Dave Eke
Meta is facing a fresh legal
challenge in the United States, with four states accusing the technology giant
of designing Instagram and Facebook to keep children hooked.
The trial opens this week in a
federal court in Oakland, California, with jury selection beginning on
Wednesday. Opening arguments are due on August 18, with proceedings expected to
run for about six weeks and a verdict likely in October.
California, Colorado, Kentucky
and New Jersey are seeking restrictions on how Meta’s platforms operate for
young users and penalties that could reach $1.4 trillion.
The case follows the 2021 “Facebook
Files” revelations by former Meta employee Frances Haugen, which raised
concerns about Instagram’s effects on teenagers, particularly girls.
Prosecutors say features
including endless scrolling, notifications and visible likes were deliberately
built to encourage prolonged use. The case focuses on platform design rather
than material posted by users.
Meta rejects the allegations
and says it has a strong record of protecting teenagers online. Chief executive
Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify.
The company has also faced
major rulings elsewhere, including a $6 million US jury award and more than
$500 million in penalties imposed in New Mexico.
The Oakland proceedings could
become another major test of how far social media companies can be held
responsible for the way their products affect children.
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