Meta faces a potential fine and damages up to a trillion dollars. This lawsuit threatens its ad-based business model. Twenty-nine US states accuse Meta of designing platforms to encourage addictive use, especially among younger users.
The trial started last Tuesday. It could change social media platforms significantly. They might become unrecognizable from how we know them today.
States want Meta to remove "addictive design features" from Instagram and Facebook. These include infinite scroll, auto-playing videos, disappearing content (like Instagram Stories), face-filters, and algorithm-driven feeds. This is according to CNBC.
During the opening statement, California's Deputy Attorney General said Meta prioritizes profits over safety. She stated Meta hides the presence of children under 13 on its platforms. Their business model aims to lure users, keep them long, collect data, and mislead the public.
Kate Winnick, a Forrester analyst, believes this trial could end social media as we know it. She stated any ruling against Meta would set a huge precedent.
She compared these trials to lawsuits against tobacco companies in the 1990s. The outcome could be similar. Youth access to products may become harder. The cultural message around social media will also change.
California's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, said Meta is the "first in a series of lawsuits." Other states are suing social media companies for damages. Lawsuits against YouTube and Snap are also pending.
Bonta asked, "Who will start first? Who will be last? Ideally, they would all start at the same time. They will all commit to the same reforms and changes to protect all children and keep them safe.\
In March, Meta and YouTube were found negligent in a social media addiction lawsuit. A young woman claimed she became addicted to their apps as a child. She said the platforms' design caused severe body image issues, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Winnick expects other social media sites, like Snap, to make "proactive changes." This would help them comply with any changes imposed on Meta.
She believes this will not eliminate the sector. However, it will significantly reduce usage long-term. Young users may not join these platforms as often.
Winnick stated the real existential threat to Meta and social media is a new wave of lawsuits. These would be from adults claiming similar problems and effects.