Earlier in March, a Los Angeles jury delivered a rebuke to some of the world’s most powerful platforms. In an unprecedented verdict, the jury found that Meta and Google designed their social networks and content platforms to be addictive, which may have caused mental health harms for young users. Now, a federal judge in California recently rejected a petition to dismiss a similar lawsuit. Twenty-nine states in the US are suing Meta, claiming its social media platforms intentionally addict children.
The lawsuit claims that Meta’s platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, addict young users while hiding mental health risks from the public. The judge has rejected Meta’s bid in this social media case about children.
The federal judge advances the state claims for a summer trial
According to Reuters, the US district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Meta must face claims of deception and unfair business practices. Rogers also advanced the lawsuit and said the network clearly violated federal privacy laws. The judge found that Meta failed to meet regulations for providing notice and obtaining parental consent, which grants an early win for the states.
As per the lawsuit, the states argue that functionalities on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, lead to mental health issues in kids. Some of these major issues include anxiety, depression, and self-harm, including suicide. Lawyers for 29 states accuse the company of ignoring internal research, which highlighted these dangers.
Meta defends its services against the ongoing legal claims
While Meta claims its social media services serve a general US audience, critics believe the tech firm’s platforms actively harm children. “We strongly disagree with these allegations and are confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people”, Meta said in a statement. The company also mentioned that internet addiction isn’t an official psychiatric condition. It’s also worth mentioning that Meta is seeking immunity from lawsuits over child harm.
Meta claims its public statements were legally true. Also, it said its platforms target older groups, so it didn’t break child privacy laws. Despite the social networking giant’s arguments, the California judge found enough disputes to require a jury review of the case. The court records show that a trial over California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey’s claims against Meta will take place on August 18th.
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