‘When my daughter was struggling, it became Meta’s bottom line’ – Parents demand accountability from social media giant as landmark child safety trial begins in California

Meta Trial Begins

Parents of children they say were harmed by social media gathered outside an Oakland Federal Courthouse on Tuesday as social media giant Meta went on trial over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed to keep young users hooked at the expense of their safety and mental health.

Footage shows relatives holding portraits of loved ones and a large banner bearing the names of alleged victims and their ages.

“I’m here today because my daughter should still be alive,” said Lori Schott, parent of 18-year-old Annalee. “She was fighting a battle we could not see, a battle within the world of social media.”

Families Share Pain

The parent said diaries found after her daughter’s death revealed her distress and alleged that Meta’s platforms exposed vulnerable teenage girls to targeted advertising when they were emotionally struggling.

“We continue to learn about Annalee’s social media experience and how devastating it was. […] When my daughter was struggling, it became Meta’s bottom line,” she added.

Erin Popolo, mother of Emily Murillo, a 17-year-old who took her own life in January 2021, claimed social media compounded the harm her daughter experienced.

“What she could not survive was the hopelessness and the helplessness that was created and amplified by the design choices that Meta put in front of her,” she said.

Meta Faces Lawsuit

Opening statements began in a case brought by a bipartisan coalition of 29 US states, with California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey leading the action. The states accuse Meta of violating consumer-protection laws and children’s privacy rules, and are seeking penalties that could reach $1.4 trillion.

The states allege that features such as infinite scrolling, likes and recommendation systems were designed to maximise children’s engagement, while Meta also allegedly collected data from children without proper parental consent.

Meta denies the allegations, disputes a direct causal link between its platforms and poor adolescent mental health, and says it has introduced safety measures for young users.

The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks and could lead to changes in how Facebook and Instagram operate.

Article by Viory

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