Meta has faced its first legal defeats over the negative impact of its platforms on young users. A New Mexico court ruled that Meta was liable under the state’s Unfair Practices Act, while another jury found it knowingly designed apps to be addictive. These rulings could spark a wave of similar cases targeting tech giants for their design features.

Legal experts highlight how these lawsuits focus not just on harmful content but also on the platform's design itself. This moves beyond First Amendment protections and opens new avenues for accountability in digital environments.

Newly released internal documents reveal Meta’s efforts to increase teen engagement, even at the expense of users' well-being. The company introduced safety features like Instagram Teen Accounts with built-in limits but faces ongoing scrutiny from both parents and lawmakers.

For Kelly Stonelake, a former product marketing director now suing Meta for alleged discrimination, these revelations are unsurprising. She claims to have seen firsthand the company’s prioritisation of user engagement over ethical considerations.