Facebook, Instagram Could Change Over Child Safety Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed by 30 US states against Meta over allegations of harm to children’s mental health and privacy is heading to a jury trial. The BBC reported the development on Monday, August 17.

The case will be heard in a federal court in California before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The plaintiffs have accused Meta of violating federal and state child protection laws and are seeking more than $1 trillion in damages, along with major changes to how Facebook and Instagram operate.

The states allege that the platforms’ algorithms and designs are built to keep children and teenagers engaged for longer periods and encourage addictive use. They are calling for an end to like counts, infinite scrolling and autoplay, as well as mandatory parental verification for underage users.

Meta has denied the allegations, saying it has worked for years to support the safety of young users and will defend its position in court.

Experts say a loss for Meta could lead to lasting changes in how Facebook and Instagram are used in the United States.