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29 US states sue Meta in Oakland trial over alleged youth-targeted design
A lawsuit brought by 29 US states against Meta has gone to trial in Oakland, alleging the company studied adolescent brain development and used those insights to design Facebook and Instagram to maximise time spent on the platforms. The suit cites internal documents referring to factors such as lower impulse control and high reward sensitivity. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said potential compensation is around US$200 billion, a figure comparable to the US$206 billion tobacco settlement reached in 1998.
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