Source: Reuters

Reuters details explosive new allegations from unsealed US court filings which claim that Meta Platforms Inc. deliberately concealed internal research showing a causal link between its social media platforms and significant harm to users, particularly minors. The plaintiffs, comprising dozens of US states, argue that Meta's leadership was fully aware that Instagram and Facebook were designed to be addictive and detrimental to mental health but chose to bury this evidence to protect profits. The documents suggest that executives ignored repeated warnings from their own safety teams.

Legally, this strengthens the plaintiffs' case for negligence and deceptive trade practices. The "causal" nature of the evidence is pivotal; moving beyond correlation to causation significantly increases the likelihood of liability in product defect and consumer protection lawsuits . If proven, Meta could face billions in damages and be forced to fundamentally restructure its algorithmic recommendation systems. The case parallels the historic litigation against Big Tobacco, where internal knowledge of harm became the smoking gun that shifted the legal landscape.