States say Meta engineered Instagram and Facebook to keep children hooked

Meta rejected accusations on Tuesday that it deliberately built Facebook and Instagram to addict children, as opening statements began in Oakland federal court in a case brought by 29 states. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading at trial.

California deputy attorney general Megan O’Neill told the jury Meta’s model was to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can,” and then to take what those users generated and keep the company’s own findings from the public. It had worked particularly well on children, she added.

She said the states were not trying to put the company out of business and acknowledged that social media benefits some people. Meta shares closed down 4.4% at $543.67.

States say Meta made teen engagement a product goal

O’Neill said Meta had studied the psychology of youth seeking rewards and validation from others and used that knowledge to develop its product. She provided an example of an internal email to Adam Mosseri, CEO of Instagram, about targeting teen usage time, and how employees had referred to Instagram as a drug and themselves as pushers.

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