Meta is facing one of its biggest U.S. legal tests over the safety of Facebook and Instagram as a coalition of 29 states takes the company to trial over allegations that it deliberately designed features to keep children and teenagers hooked.
Opening arguments began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California. The states contend that features including infinite scrolling, frequent notifications and recommendation systems encourage compulsive use while exposing young people to mental-health risks. They also accuse Meta of collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, in violation of federal privacy law.
California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the case before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The states are seeking financial penalties and changes to Meta’s platforms, potentially including stronger age verification and limits on features they describe as addictive. The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are among the witnesses expected to testify.
Meta denies wrongdoing. The company says it has invested heavily in protections for teenagers and argues that the states have not proved that its platforms caused the harms alleged in the lawsuit.
The case could have major consequences for how social-media companies design products for minors. It follows years of growing concern from parents, lawmakers and health professionals about the effects of prolonged social-media use on young people.
Sources: Reuters and The Associated Press.
