Historic Los Angeles Trial: Meta and Google Allegedly Addicting Children to Platforms
The ongoing legal battle in Los Angeles has drawn significant attention as tech giants Meta and Google face serious allegations. They are accused of intentionally designing their platforms to foster addiction among young users. This lawsuit marks a historic moment, as it is the first time social media companies are held accountable for the harm caused to children.
Key Details of the Trial
The trial began on February 9 in a civil court, with attorney Mark Lanier leading the charge against the two companies. He claims, “Addiction is profitable,” underlining the business model of these tech firms that heavily relies on user engagement for advertising revenue.
Case Background
Central to the case is 20-year-old Kaley G.M. from California. She began using YouTube at age six and created an Instagram account when she was eleven. Kaley alleges that her addiction to social media has led to severe depression, anxiety, and body image issues.
Key Testimonies and Evidence
- Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is set to testify on February 18.
- Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, will appear in court shortly ahead of his testimony.
- A revealing internal email from Zuckerberg urged his teams to reverse the disengagement trend among younger users on Instagram.
Lanier presented internal documents from both companies, arguing that they have deliberately engineered addiction in young minds. He emphasized how their advertising revenue is fundamentally tied to the time users spend on their platforms.
Legal Context and Implications
This trial will not delve into the nature of harmful or manipulative content on these platforms, as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act offers substantial legal protection against such claims. Instead, the focus will be on the design of the platforms and algorithms that promote compulsive usage.
The legal approach taken here has parallels to historic tobacco industry litigation, where harmful products were scrutinized. Notably, Meta and Google’s defenses have sought to differentiate their products from addictive substances like tobacco and opioids, but this has been rejected by the presiding judge, Carolyn Kuhl.
Broader Impact
The outcome of this trial could set a precedent for many other cases across California and nationally. Matthew Bergman, who leads the Social Media Victims Law Center, highlighted that his team is managing over 1,000 similar cases. Moreover, a separate lawsuit in New Mexico accuses Meta of failing to protect minors from online predators and is also expected to commence this week.
The Los Angeles proceedings may trigger significant changes in how social media platforms are designed and regulated, prompting a nationwide conversation on protecting children online.
