Meta accused of exploiting children for profit, misleading public

Legal authorities have accused Meta of deliberately targeting children on its platforms to maximise user engagement and extract valuable personal information, whilst simultaneously obscuring the potential harms to minors. Prosecutor Megan O'Neill presented evidence suggesting the social media company prioritised profit margins over the wellbeing of its youngest users.

The allegations centre on Meta's business practices across its portfolio of platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Prosecutors contend that the company engineered features specifically designed to cultivate dependency among child users, creating engagement metrics that benefited the organisation's bottom line at the expense of young people's mental health and safety.

The case represents an escalating regulatory challenge facing Meta as governments worldwide intensify scrutiny of technology companies' conduct toward minors. Several jurisdictions have launched investigations into how major platforms collect and utilise data belonging to children, and the psychological impacts of prolonged social media usage on developing minds.

Meta has previously faced similar accusations from regulators and advocacy groups concerned about the platform's influence on youth wellbeing. The company has stated it invests substantially in safety features and age-appropriate content controls, though critics argue these measures remain insufficient to protect vulnerable users.