The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider an appeal by Meta Platforms seeking to overturn a legal proceeding in Vermont, in a case accusing it of designing Instagram to create addiction among young users.
This decision means that the proceedings initiated by the Vermont Attorney General can continue in state courts. Meta had challenged the jurisdiction of the local courts, arguing that the case fell outside their jurisdiction.
This case is part of a series of lawsuits across the United States targeting major social media platforms. Several states, municipalities, and school districts accuse these companies of intentionally designing their services to capture the attention of teenagers and encourage compulsive use.
In Vermont, authorities allege that Metadeveloped Instagram in a way that exploited the psychological mechanisms of teenagers to maximize time spent on the platform and associated advertising revenue. They also accuse the company of downplaying the risks associated with its services being used by younger users.
Meta rejects these accusations and maintains that the evidence presented is insufficient to establish a legal link with the territory of Vermont, arguing that the design decisions for its products were made outside the state.
This Supreme Court ruling represents a procedural setback for Meta, which is already facing several legal challenges related to the safety of minors on its platforms. The case could now proceed to the Vermont courts.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.