US states accuse Meta of addicting children to social media

A landmark trial opened on Tuesday in Oakland, California, with a lawyer for the state of California accusing Meta Platforms of deliberately engineering its Facebook and Instagram apps to addict children. The case, brought by a bipartisan group of 29 US states, could reshape how two of the world's most popular social media platforms operate.

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." She added that the strategy "worked especially well for kids," and that Meta needed young users while reassuring their caregivers that the platforms were safe.

The four lead states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—allege that Meta designed its products to hook young users, contributing to anxiety, depression, and even suicide, and that the company misled consumers about safety. All 29 states also claim Meta violated federal law by improperly collecting and using children's personal data.

The jury will issue an advisory verdict, but US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will decide liability. If she finds Meta liable, she could impose civil penalties and order changes to Facebook and Instagram, including age restrictions and the removal of infinite scroll features.

Meta has argued that penalties could reach $1.4 trillion, close to the company's market value, while the states have suggested a figure closer to $200 billion—roughly three years of after-tax profit. Meta has denied misleading statements about safety and said the states have not shown that residents were harmed.

During opening statements, O'Neill showed jurors an internal email to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri that described "teen time spent" as a company goal, and said employees referred to Instagram as a "drug" and themselves as "pushers." She argued that the younger a child starts using the app, the more likely they are to remain a user and generate revenue.

Outside the courthouse, critics voiced concerns. Mary Rodee, whose 15-year-old son Riley Basford died by suicide in 2021 after being victimized by a predator on Facebook, said, "They call it spontaneous suicide. I call it what it was, the predictable outcome of a system that protects corporations instead of children."

The lawsuit began in 2023, following whistleblower Frances Haugen's testimony that Meta knew its products were unsafe for children but prioritized profits. Meta and other social media companies face thousands of similar lawsuits from states, municipalities, school districts, and individuals.

Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri are expected to testify during the six-week trial.