A federal court trial of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has begun in connection with hundreds of personal injury lawsuits filed against social media companies over allegations that they prioritized profits over child safety. The case centers on a 19-year-old woman who claims to have suffered from depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts after spending hours on YouTube and Instagram.
The trial's significance lies not only in the individual case but also as a potential bellwether for hundreds of similar lawsuits filed against social media companies. Meta has allegedly prioritized profits over child safety by designing features that keep users engaged for longer periods, including infinite scroll and autoplay.
Experts testifying in the case claim that social media addiction is real and that platforms' design features contribute to its development. This includes Kara Bagot, a licensed clinical psychologist, who stated that "social media overuse and addiction causes or plays a substantial role in causing or exacerbating psychopathological harms in children and youth."
The trial has gained attention due to the publication of internal research by Meta, which appears to show that the company's design features were intended to keep users engaged for extended periods. An email from Mark Zuckerberg stated that teen engagement was a top priority in 2017, while another document from 2020 detailed the company's plan to keep kids engaged "for life."
The jury will have access to this internal research, as well as testimony from Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety researcher who claims to have witnessed design defects on platforms that can cause harm to minors.
Meta has argued that the plaintiffs failed to read the terms of service and, therefore, should not benefit from posted warnings. However, a judge ruled that the experts' opinions are relevant and will be considered by the jury.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for social media companies, potentially leading to billions of dollars in damages and changes in platform design. The case highlights the growing concern over the impact of social media on children's mental health and the need for greater regulation of these platforms.
The trial's significance lies not only in the individual case but also as a potential bellwether for hundreds of similar lawsuits filed against social media companies. Meta has allegedly prioritized profits over child safety by designing features that keep users engaged for longer periods, including infinite scroll and autoplay.
Experts testifying in the case claim that social media addiction is real and that platforms' design features contribute to its development. This includes Kara Bagot, a licensed clinical psychologist, who stated that "social media overuse and addiction causes or plays a substantial role in causing or exacerbating psychopathological harms in children and youth."
The trial has gained attention due to the publication of internal research by Meta, which appears to show that the company's design features were intended to keep users engaged for extended periods. An email from Mark Zuckerberg stated that teen engagement was a top priority in 2017, while another document from 2020 detailed the company's plan to keep kids engaged "for life."
The jury will have access to this internal research, as well as testimony from Arturo Bejar, a former Meta safety researcher who claims to have witnessed design defects on platforms that can cause harm to minors.
Meta has argued that the plaintiffs failed to read the terms of service and, therefore, should not benefit from posted warnings. However, a judge ruled that the experts' opinions are relevant and will be considered by the jury.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for social media companies, potentially leading to billions of dollars in damages and changes in platform design. The case highlights the growing concern over the impact of social media on children's mental health and the need for greater regulation of these platforms.
... like, can you imagine using social media and having it literally affect your mental health? It's crazy to think that these companies have been so aware of the issue but just chose to prioritize profits over our well-being 
. The fact that they designed features to keep us engaged for hours is basically a recipe for disaster 
. I'm glad there's someone like Arturo Bejar speaking out about what really goes on behind the scenes at these companies. Maybe this trial will lead to some real change and we'll start seeing more regulation around social media 
... fingers crossed!
I mean, it's about time someone held Meta accountable for prioritizing profits over actual human well-being 
. I'm sure Mark Zuckerberg is just thrilled to have his entire "we're all about kids" narrative called out like that 
. The fact that they had internal research showing their design features were meant to keep users engaged for extended periods? Yeah, no surprise there 
. It's not like they've been playing dumb about this or anything... 
social media companies r making billions off our addiction & now we're seeing the devastating effects on mental health 
gotta wonder if Mark Zuckerberg has kids of his own, how would he feel if his own teens were struggling with depression & anxiety? 
anyway, can't wait 2 see what the verdict is 
I can totally imagine how scary it must be for that 19-year-old girl who went through all those struggles because of her screen time 
And now, a judge is finally giving attention to the harm they've caused 
I hope the jury sees the truth and holds Meta accountable 
It's time for these companies to start prioritizing our well-being over profits 
It makes me wonder, when did we become so addicted to these platforms? Like, what is the real priority here? Is it really just profits over safety or is it something more complex? 
I mean, we all know we use social media because of FOMO and the fear of missing out, but at what cost? 
. The fact that they've admitted to designing features that keep users engaged for extended periods, including infinite scroll and autoplay, is pretty alarming 
.
. Those design features are literally designed to keep us glued to our screens, and we all know how that can mess with our mental health 
. The judge making the experts' opinions relevant is a huge win for justice 
. If this trial leads to changes in platform design and more regulation, I'm all for it 
.
, like what even is the point of having a kid account if it's just gonna be designed to keep them hooked all day? 
It's like, we get it, you want to make money off our kids' eyeballs, but at what cost? 
.
. The fact that Meta has internal research showing they designed features to keep users engaged longer is pretty damning