tech
“IG is a drug”: Internal messages may doom Meta at social media addiction trial
A loss could cost social media companies billions and force changes on platforms.
TL;DR
- Over 1,000 lawsuits allege Meta and other social media platforms prioritized profits over child safety, leading to addiction, anxiety, depression, and other harms.
- The first high-profile trial, a "bellwether" case, targets Meta and YouTube, accusing them of designing addictive features like infinite scroll.
- TikTok and Snapchat have settled their cases, but Meta and YouTube are proceeding to trial.
- The plaintiff alleges psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidality, starting from a young age.
- Social media companies argue that external factors, not their platforms, caused the harm, and cite Section 230 and the First Amendment for protection.
- Internal company documents, some unsealed, suggest deliberate design choices to addict children and teens for profit.
- A judge ruled that the plaintiff presented enough evidence for her claims to go to trial, rejecting motions for summary judgment.
- Expert testimony supporting the plaintiff's claims, including from a former Meta safety researcher, was allowed to be presented to the jury.