On Monday, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) was hit with renewed legal challenges as Tennessee alleged the company prioritized engagement and ad revenue over concerns about Instagram’s effects on teenagers.
Tennessee Says Meta Ignored Internal Warnings
During opening statements in a Nashville courtroom, attorneys for Tennessee argued that Meta’s internal researchers repeatedly identified links between compulsive Instagram use and issues such as eating disorders, depression and self-harm among teens, Reuters reported.
Despite those findings, the state alleged Meta continued using features including autoplay, push notifications and infinite scroll because they kept teenagers on the platform longer and exposed them to more advertisements.
The state’s legal team played the familiar smartphone notification sound for jurors, saying unpredictable alerts trigger dopamine responses that encourage repeated use, particularly in developing teenage brains.
Attorney Tom Cartmell also pointed to a 2017 internal Meta document in which product managers allegedly acknowledged that notifications and infinite scroll “are inherently at odds with well-being” and suggested the public should be warned.
“This warning never came,” Cartmell told the jury.
Meta Defends its Safety Efforts
Meta rejected the allegations, arguing that the same internal documents demonstrate the company actively studied potential risks so it could improve its platforms.
Attorney Kevin Huff said Meta has been transparent about challenges affecting teens and has introduced tools designed to limit problematic Instagram use while giving parents and educators more resources to protect young users.
“We think the evidence will show that Meta is doing its part and empowering others to do their part, because protecting teens online is a shared responsibility. It takes a village,” Huff said.
Part of a Broader Legal Fight
Tennessee is seeking financial penalties and a court order requiring Instagram to adopt additional protections for teenagers.
If jurors find Meta liable, the trial will move to a second phase in which the judge will determine potential penalties and any required changes to the platform.
The case is one of numerous lawsuits filed by states, individuals and school districts accusing Meta of contributing to harms affecting children through its social media platforms.
Price Action: Meta closed Monday at $593.87, down 0.22% and edged 0.31% higher to $595.74 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.
According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Meta ranks in the 88th percentile for Growth, though its shares have underperformed over the short, medium and long term.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo Courtesy: Melnikov Dmitriy on Shutterstock.com
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