Meta disregarded its own research on teen harm, Tennessee lawyers tell jury
📰 source: theguardian_business · 💼 business
tennessee lawyers told a jury in nashville that meta ignored its own internal research about instagram's harm to teenagers. during opening statements of a seven-week trial, the state said meta researchers repeatedly flagged compulsive use leading to eating disorders, depression, and self-harm. but the company did not disable features like autoplay, notifications, and infinite scroll, which lawyers said were designed to keep teens on the platform longer and increase ad views. an internal document from 2017 showed meta product managers wrote that such features 'are inherently at odds with well-being' and recommended a public warning. the warning never came, the state said. meta's attorney countered that the company is transparent about risks and works to find and fix problems, pointing to tools that limit problematic use. this case is one of 42 state lawsuits against meta. it follows a $375m penalty in new mexico in march, where a jury found meta liable for harming children. if held liable, a second phase will decide damages. a federal trial against meta, youtube, tiktok, and snap starts next month in oakland.
why it matters: tennessee trial reveals meta's internal knowledge of teen harm, could set precedent for liability and platform design changes.
source: theguardian_business
sentiment: -0.60 · impact: 0.40