The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts this week heard critical arguments in a landmark lawsuit filed by the state against tech giant Meta Platforms Inc. The case accuses Meta of intentionally designing addictive features on Facebook and Instagram that are specifically harmful to young users, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of teenagers.
Core of the Legal Battle: Product Design vs. Free Speech
Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office, which initiated the lawsuit in 2024, contends that Meta's profit-motivated design decisions are the central issue. The state's legal team pointed to internal company research that allegedly identified tools fostering compulsive use.
"We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways," State Solicitor David Kravitz informed the court, as per an Associated Press report. He clarified that the state's challenge is not directly against Meta's content algorithms or moderation policies, but squarely on its product architecture.
Meta's legal counsel, Mark Mosier, countered these allegations by invoking First Amendment protections. He argued that holding the company liable for these design choices would punish it for performing traditional publishing functions. "The Commonwealth would have a better chance of getting around the First Amendment if they alleged that the speech was false or fraudulent," Mosier stated.
Judicial Scrutiny on "Incessant" Features
Several justices appeared to focus their questioning on the nature of Meta's product features rather than the content itself. Justice Dalila Wendlandt noted, as per the AP report, that the claim is not about false information but about an "algorithm of incessant notifications" engineered to exploit teenage psychology, particularly the fear of missing out (FOMO).
Justice Scott Kafker further pressed this point, highlighting the platform's agnostic approach to content quality in its pursuit of user attention. "It's not how to publish but how to attract you to the information. ... It doesn't care if it's Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' or nonsense. It's totally focused on getting you to look at it," he remarked.
A Growing Wave of Legal and Public Pressure
This Massachusetts case is part of a broader legal onslaught against Meta. In 2023, a coalition of 33 states sued the Menlo Park-based company, alleging illegal data collection from children under 13. Massachusetts and several other states have filed additional suits focusing on these allegedly harmful design choices, such as endless scrolling and constant alerts.
The public and regulatory concern intensified after a 2021 Wall Street Journal investigation revealed Meta's own internal studies indicated Instagram could worsen body image issues and mental health for teenagers, with a disproportionate impact on girls. One cited study found that 13.5% of teen girls reported intensified suicidal thoughts, while 17% said the platform exacerbated eating disorder struggles.
Critics, including former Meta employee and whistleblower Arturo Bejar, argue the company has resisted implementing "real steps" to enhance safety, preferring to announce superficial measures like new parental controls. As the legal battles unfold, this case in Massachusetts could set a significant precedent for how the law interprets the responsibility of social media giants for the design of their digital environments.
