Meta Platforms is facing a major legal challenge from 29 U.S. states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that could harm young users. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified in federal court in Oakland, California, rejecting claims that he encouraged employees to hide negative information about children's safety.
Meta Platforms is facing a major legal challenge in the United States as Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified in a federal trial examining allegations that the company's social media platforms harmed young users.
The lawsuit was brought by 29 U.S. states, making it one of the largest legal tests of the impact of social media on children and teenagers. The states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that encouraged excessive use while failing to adequately protect young users.
Four states "California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey" have specifically accused Meta of designing its platforms to hook young users, contributing to problems including anxiety, depression and suicide. The states also allege that Meta improperly collected and used personal information belonging to children under 13 who used its platforms.
The states have indicated that they could seek nearly $200 billion in civil penalties. However, Meta has not been ordered to pay that amount. The trial is intended to determine whether the company is liable, after which the judge will decide any applicable penalties or changes to Facebook and Instagram.
Mosseri, who has led Instagram since 2018, rejected allegations that he encouraged employees to keep negative information about the platform away from the public.
During testimony, Mosseri denied knowing about an alleged Meta policy under which lawyers reviewed internal presentations to remove information or shield company executives from potential problems.
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Mosseri said information concerning children's safety was important to the public and that he wanted to understand how Instagram's products worked and how they affected users.
The testimony also addressed how Instagram handled sensitive research involving teenagers after the 2021 Facebook Files disclosures by former Meta employee Frances Haugen.
Mosseri said Meta subsequently restricted access to sensitive research about teenagers to employees who worked directly on those projects.
The court has also heard testimony concerning how Instagram presented internal information about teenagers' exposure to potentially harmful content.
Instagram product design director Francesco Fogu previously testified about a presentation his team prepared for Instagram leadership in 2023.
Under questioning from a lawyer representing Colorado, Fogu acknowledged that data showing teenage Instagram users encountered certain categories of content at higher rates than adults had been removed from a slide in the presentation.
He also testified that Instagram knew fewer people would use its "take a break" feature if the option was not made the default setting.
The testimony is part of the states' broader argument that Meta was aware of potential risks associated with its platforms but did not do enough to address them.
Meta has rejected the accusations that it deliberately designed its platforms to addict children in pursuit of greater profits. The company has also said its research does not establish a clear link between adolescents' social media use and a lack of well-being.
The case is being heard in U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, and the trial is expected to continue through much of September.
Jurors are expected to issue an advisory verdict, while U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide whether Meta is liable. If the company is found liable, the judge will also determine any civil penalties and possible changes to Facebook and Instagram.
The case adds to a growing number of legal challenges facing Meta over the effects of social media on young users.
Earlier in August, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million to address teenagers' mental health after the state's attorney general accused the company of operating its platforms as a public nuisance.
Meta's latest legal challenge could therefore have significant financial and regulatory implications for the company, particularly if the court ultimately orders penalties or changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate.
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