Meta ‘hid truth over child safety’ as tech giant accused of designing its platforms to be addictive to kids

SOCIAL media giant Meta “hid the truth” over child safety, a court has heard. The firm, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been accused of deliberately designing its platforms to be addictive to kids, even to the harm of their mental health. Meta ‘hid the truth’ over child safety, a court has heard Credit: Getty Lawyers are alleging the company profited by deliberately designing its platforms to be addictive to children, pictured Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg Credit: Getty Solicitors from four US states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — are challenging the tech company for a payout that could total more than £1trillion. The claimants are also seeking to force restrictions to the use of “dopamine-manipulating” algorithms and strengthen parental controls on kids’ accounts. Sign up for the Tech newsletter Thank you! Megan O’Neill, Deputy Attorney General for California, said the Meta model had “worked well for kids” as it lured them to return. The trial originates from a 2023 lawsuit filed by 29 states on child privacy laws being violated. The remaining 25 will go to trial at a later date. The hearing at Oakland Federal Court, California, could force Meta, whose chairman is Mark Zuckerberg, to strip away “addictive” tools such as “like” counts, beauty filters, video autoplays, and infinite scrolling. Meta denies the allegations and claims to have a “longstanding commitment to supporting young people”. The case is being heard before Chief Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers at Oakland Federal Court, California. Most read in Tech She previously presided over a high-profile trial between Tesla boss Elon Musk and AI billionaire Sam Altman.