Meta heads to US court over claims its platforms harmed children

MUMBAI: Meta is about to face a scroll-stopping moment in court. The tech giant will head to a US courtroom this week to defend Facebook and Instagram against allegations that their design encouraged addictive use among children and exposed young users to mental health risks.

The trial is among the first major cases emerging from a broader wave of lawsuits brought by families who allege that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to maximise engagement among minors despite knowing about potential psychological harms.

At the centre of the case are features that have become almost second nature to social media users infinite scrolling, algorithm-driven recommendations, notifications and other engagement tools. Plaintiffs argue that these mechanisms encouraged excessive use among young people and contributed to problems including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and low self-esteem.

Meta has disputed the allegations, arguing that it has invested heavily in safety measures and parental controls designed to protect younger users and support families. The company has also maintained that there is no scientific consensus establishing that its platforms directly cause mental health disorders.

The case is expected to put Meta’s product decisions under the microscope, with proceedings examining internal company communications, research and design choices made over several years. Plaintiffs are seeking damages and aim to establish that Meta knowingly placed user engagement ahead of children’s welfare.

The legal battle gained fresh momentum in 2021 when documents leaked by former Facebook employee Frances Haugen revealed internal research examining Instagram’s impact on teenage users, including concerns around body image. The disclosures triggered congressional hearings, regulatory investigations and renewed demands for stronger safeguards for minors.

Meta has since introduced a series of youth-safety measures, including enhanced parental supervision tools, tighter content controls for teenagers, private-by-default settings for younger users and restrictions on interactions with unknown adults.

But the courtroom challenge extends beyond Meta. Technology companies across the US are facing growing scrutiny over how their platforms affect children, with states introducing legislation aimed at restricting social media use by minors. Regulators in Europe, Australia and other markets have also stepped up attention on algorithms, age verification and online safety.

The outcome could therefore reach well beyond Facebook and Instagram. A ruling on whether platform design can make a company legally responsible for harms allegedly suffered by young users could influence how technology companies approach engagement features, child protection and product development.

For Meta, the case arrives as the company juggles growing regulatory pressure with competition across social media and artificial intelligence. For the wider tech industry, it could become a closely watched test of where the responsibility for children’s online experiences ultimately sits.