29 US states demand up to €1.2 trillion from Meta: "apps deliberately made addictive"

This week, a mega-lawsuit against Meta began in Oakland, California. Twenty-nine American states, including New Jersey, Kentucky, and Colorado, are demanding a fine that could reach up to 1.2 trillion euros (approximately 1.4 trillion dollars). The accusation: Meta is alleged to have deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children and teenagers, while the company knew that certain features could harm their mental health.

The states specifically point to infinite scroll, autoplay of videos, push notifications that lure users back, and recommendation algorithms trained on children's data. Meta is also accused of violating the American children's privacy law COPPA by allowing children under the age of 13 to access its platforms. In addition to financial penalties, the states are demanding structural changes: parental controls for teenage profiles, a ban on multiple accounts per person, and the removal of infinite scroll. Meta calls the accusation unfounded and says it is confident that the evidence will show the company has always prioritised the protection of young users. The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Addiction is Not a Law of Technology

This case exposes something we at CivAI have long observed: addictive technology is not an unfortunate side effect, it is a design choice. Social media profits from attention, so every screen is optimised to keep you engaged for as long as possible, even when you no longer really know why you are scrolling.

That does not have to be the only way in which AI and young people interact. With EduGPT, GovGPT, CareGPT, and OrgGPT, we consciously choose the opposite design:

• Transparent conversations instead of an opaque recommendation algorithm
• The teacher, supervisor, or organisation remains in control, not engagement metrics that determine what someone gets to see
• Hosted in Europe and GDPR-compliant, with no business model based on screen time
• Integrated AI literacy: pupils and staff not only learn how to use AI, but also to understand how persuasion techniques and algorithms work

That last point is where the real difference lies. A ban on infinite scroll addresses one symptom. Those who learn how the attention economy works will recognise the next addictive feature, even without a court ruling first. Well-implemented AI, combined with training in AI literacy, removes that addictive stimulus instead of hiding it behind another interface.

Source

Based on reporting by Tweakers about the trial against Meta.

Image for illustration purposes, created with AI