Landmark state lawsuit could force Meta to redesign infinite scroll, Stories, filters, and other features

The useful part

Drew Angerer/Getty Images Imagine opening Instagram and reaching the bottom of your feed. Stories no longer disappear after 24 hours, beauty filters are restricted, and the algorithm has less control over what you see next. That version of Instagram may sound almost unrecognizable, but it could become a reality if Meta loses a landmark lawsuit brought by California and 28 other states.

How it works

• Infinite scrolling, autoplaying videos, disappearing Stories, beauty filters, push notifications, visible "likes," and algorithm-driven feeds are all under scrutiny.
• That means this case isn't only about whether Meta owes an enormous amount of money, but it could determine whether Instagram and Facebook are allowed to keep working the way we know them.
• That could mean removing or substantially redesigning infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithm-heavy feeds, beauty filters, Stories, and other features accused of keeping young people glued to their screens.
• He also said Meta does not allow children under 13 to create accounts and has disabled more than 1 million accounts belonging to underage users.
• The states, however, are attempting to show that Meta knew its existing safeguards were not enough and failed to act when employees raised concerns.

What to take from it

He said he sent the findings directly to Zuckerberg because he had seen the company move quickly when its CEO made something a priority, but Zuckerberg never responded. Meta isn't the only platform with reason to pay attention. The states accuse Meta of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children and teenagers online while concealing what it knew about the potential harms.

Example or evidence

• The survey, which questioned nearly 240,000 Instagram users, found that more than half of teenage respondents had encountered at least one harmful experience during the previous seven days.
• In their federal complaint, the states allege Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to exploit young people's lower impulse control and heightened sensitivity to rewards.
• If the states prevail, Meta may have to do more than write a massive check.
• The attorneys general are seeking injunctive and monetary relief intended to address Meta's alleged conduct and break that cycle of compulsive use.

Details worth keeping

Or having to press play on every Reel yourself. Which countries have banned social media for kids? "Hook, hold, harvest, hide." The trial began Aug.

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• Theblaze: A historic lawsuit spanning the United States and its territories ended abruptly this week, and its terms will make major changes to how children use social media.