Meta Heads to Trial Over Claims It Fueled Social Media Addiction Among Teens

Meta is set to face attorneys general from multiple states in an Oakland courtroom starting Tuesday, as a major lawsuit accusing the company of violating child safety and consumer protection laws moves to trial. The case centers on claims that Meta knowingly designed its platforms to harm young users’ mental health.

A Bellwether Case With National Implications

The trial, taking place before District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, stems from a lawsuit originally filed by 29 states in 2023. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are participating in this phase, which is expected to shape how similar cases proceed elsewhere. Testimony is expected from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri.

Allegations of Manipulative Design

The plaintiffs argue that Meta built psychologically manipulative features, including infinite scroll, autoplay, and likes, specifically to maximize the time young users spent on its platforms. States further allege that Meta was aware its apps contributed to rising anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among users but continued to market its products as safe. The lawsuit also claims Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by knowingly permitting children under 13 to use its platforms and collecting their data without parental consent.

Meta Pushes Back Against Damages

Meta has denied the allegations and is contesting potential damages that could reach as high as $1.4 trillion, an amount close to the company’s entire market capitalization of roughly $1.5 trillion. A company spokesperson called the states’ claims unsubstantiated and argued that the financial demands are disproportionate to the alleged harm, adding that Meta stands by its record on teen safety protections.

Part of a Broader Legal Pattern

This trial is one of thousands of lawsuits Meta and other social media companies currently face across the US. Earlier this month, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million toward addressing teen mental health in the state, along with $375 million in civil penalties. In March, a separate jury found both Meta and YouTube negligent in a case involving a young woman who developed dependency issues, anxiety, and self-harm behaviors after starting to use the platforms at age 10, awarding her $6 million in damages. Internationally, countries including Australia and Turkey have also moved to restrict children’s access to social media platforms.