Washington, Aug 18 (V7N)- Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a major legal challenge in the United States over allegations that its platforms harm the mental health and privacy of children and teenagers.

A lawsuit brought by 30 US states is heading to a jury trial. The states are seeking more than $1 trillion in damages and major changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate for younger users.

The states allege that Meta deliberately uses features and algorithms designed to attract young people and keep them engaged for longer periods.

Among the proposed changes are:

  • Disabling like counts for users under 18

  • Eliminating infinite scrolling

  • Removing certain appearance-changing filters

  • Turning off autoplay for videos

  • Restricting teenagers from opening multiple accounts

  • Requiring parental consent for teenage accounts

The lawsuit argues that repeated notifications and other platform features encourage young users to return to the apps and spend more time online.

'Like' counts under scrutiny

Like counts have become one of the key issues in the case. The states argue that Meta's own research found that visible like counts can encourage young people to compare themselves with others.

According to the lawsuit, such comparisons are associated with problems including loneliness, negative perceptions of one's appearance and other mental-health concerns.

Meta has rejected the allegations and maintained that it takes the safety and well-being of young users seriously.

The company has already faced significant legal pressure over similar allegations. In a separate case in New Mexico, Meta was ordered to pay about $942 million and implement several changes, including restrictions on displaying like counts to teenagers.

Verdict could affect millions of young users

If Meta loses the 30-state case, the company could face substantial financial penalties as well as further restrictions on Facebook and Instagram.

The states involved represent roughly two-thirds of the US population. As a result, a ruling against Meta could significantly change how millions of American teenagers use the two platforms.

The case could therefore become one of the most consequential legal battles over social media and children's online safety in the United States.

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