A landmark U.S. federal trial that could reshape how Meta Platforms operates Facebook and Instagram is underway in California, with 29 states seeking potentially billions of dollars in penalties over allegations that the company deliberately designed its platforms to keep children engaged.
The case, being heard in Oakland, is emerging as one of the most significant legal tests of the impact social media platforms can have on young users. Meta rejects the allegations and disputes claims that its products are inherently addictive or directly responsible for declining adolescent well-being.
U.S. states accuse Meta of designing platforms to hook young users
A bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states is suing Meta, alleging the company violated federal law and misled consumers about the safety of Facebook and Instagram.
Four lead states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — allege Meta deliberately incorporated features intended to keep children and teenagers using its platforms for longer periods, contributing to anxiety, depression and, in some cases, suicide.
All 29 states also accuse the company of improperly collecting and using children’s personal information.
Megan O’Neill, a deputy attorney general for California, told the eight-person jury that Meta’s business model was to “hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public.”
“It worked especially well for kids,” O’Neill added. “Meta needed kids, and it needed to reassure the people who cared about those kids that the kids are safe.”
The wider legal battle extends beyond Meta. Snap, TikTok parent ByteDance and YouTube parent Alphabet are also facing lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts and individuals alleging their products can harm younger users.
Meta rejects claims its platforms are addictive
Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt acknowledged that some social media users experience difficulties but argued that research has not established a clear link between adolescent social media use and reduced well-being.
He said Meta co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared the company’s goal of improving its services rather than making them dangerous.
“They don’t believe they’re going to do well if people don’t like their service,” Schmidt said.
Judge could order changes to Facebook and Instagram
Jurors are expected to deliver an advisory verdict, meaning their findings will not be binding. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately decide whether Meta is liable.
If Meta is found liable, Rogers could impose civil penalties and order significant changes to Facebook and Instagram.
Meta has said potential penalties could reach as high as $1.4 trillion US, roughly comparable to the company’s market value. Attorneys general, however, said at a hearing last week that the amount could be closer to $200 billion US.
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are also seeking changes to Meta’s platforms, including removing likes and infinite scrolling, introducing time limits for younger users and strengthening measures designed to prevent children under 13 from using the services.
For Canadian observers, the proceedings come as governments, parents and regulators continue to debate how major technology platforms should protect children online.
Former Meta safety engineer takes the stand
Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Bejar became the states’ first witness after opening arguments concluded.
Bejar has previously argued that Meta knew some of its child-safety measures were ineffective and has testified against the company in four trials.
He told jurors that “move fast and break things” was a mantra at Meta and alleged that the company took a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to determining whether children under 13 were using its services.
“Many products were shipped into the world,” including short-form video service Reels, “and safety was not a consideration in how it was initially deployed,” Bejar said.
States cite internal discussions about teen engagement
O’Neill alleged Meta studied how children responded to online stimuli and tracked their interactions in an effort to increase engagement.
She said an internal email sent to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri identified “teen time spent” as a goal and alleged that employees had privately described Instagram as a “drug” and themselves as “pushers.”
“Meta found the younger a kid is when they start using the app, the better,” O’Neill said.
Schmidt acknowledged employees may have used “loose” language in private discussions but maintained that Meta’s products were not addictive.
Zuckerberg and Mosseri are expected to testify during the proceedings, which are scheduled to last about six weeks.
Families and critics gather outside Oakland courthouse
Critics of Meta gathered outside the courthouse as the trial began, including parents who say their children were harmed through social media.
Mary Rodee said her 15-year-old son Riley Basford died by suicide in 2021 after being victimized by a predator on Facebook.
“They call it spontaneous suicide,” she said. “I call it what it was, the predictable outcome of a system that protects corporations instead of children.”
The lawsuit dates to 2023 and follows years of scrutiny over Meta’s treatment of younger users. In March, a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and Google to pay $6 million US to a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child.
Earlier this month, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million US to address harms involving teenagers’ mental health after the state’s attorney general characterized its platforms as a public nuisance. Tennessee’s attorney general is pursuing a separate case involving similar allegations about Instagram.
The Oakland proceedings could have consequences well beyond the courtroom. A finding against Meta could lead to substantial financial penalties and potentially significant changes to Facebook and Instagram, while adding to the international debate — including in Canada — over how social media companies should protect children and teenagers online.
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