Meta faces major lawsuit from 30 US states over impact on minors

Meta is currently facing a significant legal battle initiated in 2023 by a coalition of 30 U.S. states, including California and New York. The plaintiffs allege that the company intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram features, such as infinite scrolling, video autoplay, and 'likes', to maximize screen time for children and teenagers. This practice, they claim, violates federal and state laws regarding the privacy, safety, and mental health of minors.

Beyond seeking damages that could collectively exceed $1 trillion, the states are demanding structural changes to Meta’s platforms. Proposed mandates include the abolition of public like counts for young users and the implementation of mandatory parental verification processes. If the courts rule against the tech giant, these changes would fundamentally alter how millions of young users interact with social media, potentially setting a major legal precedent for the regulation of digital platforms.