A media scientist from Cologne, Martin Andree, believes that Meta is facing genuine pressure for the first time in a recently filed lawsuit in California. Speaking to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”, Andree stated, “Meta seems to be realizing: This time, there is a serious danger.”
Andree pointed to the company’s previous conduct as evidence, noting that Meta had previously paid $27 million out-of-court, along with other online services, to avoid litigation with the Breathitt County School District in Kentucky. He found it particularly interesting that a tech conglomerate like Meta, which typically fights to the absolute maximum in legal appeals, opted for such an arrangement.
The company is being accused of using its platforms, Instagram and Facebook, to make minors psychologically dependent and unwell. Andree highlighted the plaintiffs’ strategic approach, which centres not merely on usage, but on the platform’s inherent functionalities: endless scrolling, frequent notifications, and the count of likes. “This is the genuinely brilliant move by the plaintiffs,” Andree commented. This strategy has been substantially informed by the revelations of whistleblower Frances Haugen. According to Andree, the “Facebook Files” enabled Haugen to demonstrate in detail that Meta’s management was fully aware of the psychological dangers posed by its platforms, yet they actively strengthened those very features.
While the potential penalties could reach up to $1.4 trillion-nearly the company’s entire market value-Andree remains skeptical that this lawsuit poses an existential threat. He believes that, given the current political landscape in the United States, it is unlikely that the country would issue judgments against its flagship companies that endanger their existence. He attributes this to the fact that Donald Trump is increasingly utilizing these companies as a geopolitical instrument and supports them regulatorily.
Looking at Europe, Andree sees little scope for a strong challenge either. He recalled that back in July, Trump sharply criticized the EU Commission regarding a billion-dollar fine against Google and threatened new tariffs. Andree fears that Trump will attempt to undermine even the smallest EU sanctions in the future through aggressive reactions and threats.
