Meta, US states weigh deal over claims it designed Instagram, Facebook to hook young users: Report

Meta Platforms and state attorneys general have ​discussed a potential mid-trial ​settlement of a lawsuit accusing the ​company of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to young users, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar ‌with ⁠the matter.

The ⁠report comes during a federal court trial in California over ​claims brought by 29 states, in what is one of ​the highest-profile tests of allegations that social media companies have harmed young users. Just days before jury ​selection began on August 12, a ⁠federal appeals ‌court declined to halt the trial.

Meta ​and ​the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky ⁠and New Jersey did not immediately respond ​to requests for comment outside of regular ​business hours.


Late Tuesday, several state attorneys general put out advisories notifying the media of plans for press conferences, including Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, whose office said it planned to announce "a major consumer ‌protection settlement involving a leading technology company."

The claims are part of a broader wave ​of litigation ​brought by ⁠states, local governments, school districts and individuals alleging that Meta and other social media companies fueled a nationwide youth ​mental health crisis.

The federal court trial covered claims from the attorneys general of Colorado, California, Kentucky and New Jersey that Meta violated their state laws protecting consumers.