Meta Platforms Inc. is facing a high-stakes federal trial in Oakland, California, as a coalition of state attorneys general accuse the parent company of Facebook and Instagram of deliberately designing addictive products to lure in and harm young people. The lawsuit, involving more than half of the U.S. states, alleges that Meta exploited how children's brains work to create compulsive users and increase advertising revenue.
Attorneys general from 29 states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, claim Meta violated federal child privacy laws and state consumer protection laws. The lawsuit argues that the company misled the public about the mental health risks of its platforms and contributed to a youth mental health crisis. This legal action follows 2021 whistleblower claims regarding the company's profit-driven disregard for user safety.
The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks and is anticipated to feature testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, and whistleblower Arturo Béjar. The states are seeking massive financial penalties, with some demanding $1.4 trillion in damages, alongside court orders that could force a comprehensive overhaul of how Facebook and Instagram operate for young users.
Meta has defended itself by arguing that social media addiction does not exist. This landmark case is seen as potentially Meta's most consequential trial yet, occurring after the company lost two trials and settled a third regarding child safety earlier this year.