Kathmandu— Tech giant Meta is facing legal challenges in Oakland, California, as four US states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—argue that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to be addictive for young users, while also failing to adequately protect children under 13. The lawsuit, a consolidation of thousands of individual complaints, alleges Meta prioritized profit over the well-being of its youngest users, potentially violating both state consumer protection laws and federal regulations like the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This trial follows recent legal setbacks for Meta, including significant fines in New Mexico and Los Angeles, and could ultimately lead to substantial financial penalties—potentially reaching $1.4 trillion—and sweeping changes to how the platforms operate.

States Allege Deliberate Addiction

The states contend that Meta intentionally engineered its platforms with features like infinite scroll and algorithms designed to maximize user engagement, creating compulsive use among children and teenagers. The lawsuit claims these practices constitute unfair or deceptive business practices in all four states. Furthermore, the plaintiffs allege Meta was aware of the detrimental effects on users’ mental health, specifically citing examples such as recommending content related to eating disorders to young girls. “Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” the lawsuit states.

Prior Legal Battles and Precedent

This case builds on a series of recent legal defeats for Meta. In March, a New Mexico state court found the company liable for 75,000 violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act, resulting in fines totaling $942 million. Later that month, a Los Angeles County Superior Court ordered Meta to pay over $5 million to a woman who developed mental health issues after becoming addicted to Instagram and other social media platforms as a pre-teen. The jury in the Los Angeles case accepted arguments that the design of the platforms themselves—not just the content viewed—caused harm, a point likely to be central to the Oakland trial. Meta spokesperson said after losing the Los Angeles lawsuit in March, “Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”

COPPA Violations Alleged

Beyond addiction claims, the states accuse Meta of violating COPPA by collecting personal information from children under 13 without obtaining verifiable parental consent. The suit argues that Meta relies on its nominal ban on underage users as a way to avoid fulfilling its obligations under the law. However, internal documents reportedly reveal Meta’s awareness and active efforts to attract younger demographics—specifically those aged 11-13—to its platforms. “Meta does not obtain – or even attempt to obtain – verifiable parental consent before collecting the personal information of children on Instagram and Facebook,” the suit states.

Potential Outcomes and Future Implications

The four states are seeking damages potentially totaling $1.4 trillion, a sum that would equal Meta’s entire market capitalization and could lead to bankruptcy. The plaintiffs also propose changes to Meta's practices, including parental verification for teenage users, alterations to recommendation algorithms, removal of beautification filters, and the elimination of autoplay and ephemeral video content. Should Meta lose, the case could be appealed to higher courts, potentially establishing a legal precedent with far-reaching implications for social media regulation.

The trial is expected to last several weeks, and its outcome will likely shape the future of social media platforms and their responsibilities regarding user safety and mental health.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.