States Take Meta to Trial Over Youth Addiction Claims
A coalition of US states is suing Meta, alleging its platforms harm children's mental health. The trial begins in California.
A landmark legal battle over the impact of social media on children begins this week in a federal court in Oakland, California. A group of US states is suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, accusing it of designing addictive features that harm young users' mental health.
The lawsuit, filed three years ago by dozens of states, is being led in this first trial by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey. The remaining 25 states are expected to have their own trials later. The plaintiffs are seeking financial penalties that could theoretically reach $1.4 trillion, a figure that is nearly equal to Meta's entire market value, as well as court-ordered changes to how the platforms operate.
The states argue that Meta knowingly and deliberately built features to ensnare children and teens, prioritizing profit over well-being. The lawsuit also alleges that Meta collects data on children under 13 without parental consent, which would violate federal law.
Meta has denied the allegations, stating that it has listened to parents, worked with experts, and conducted research to support young people. The company has also called the potential penalty "untethered to any claimed violation" and without precedent in consumer protection enforcement.
Legal experts suggest that a penalty anywhere near the $1.4 trillion figure is highly unlikely, as it would force the company into bankruptcy. However, the trial's outcome could still be significant. A ruling against Meta could lead to major operational changes for Facebook and Instagram, potentially including new safety features and content restrictions for minors.
The trial follows a separate case in Los Angeles where a jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in the design of their platforms, though the damages awarded were far smaller. The Oakland case is considered more complex, as it involves multiple state statutes related to child privacy, false advertising, and unfair competition.
During jury selection, prospective jurors acknowledged a belief that Meta has contributed to the youth mental health crisis, but also placed responsibility on parents and cited other societal factors. The trial is expected to be a key test of how the legal system holds social media companies accountable for their impact on children.