Meta faces landmark trial over alleged harm to children from social media platforms

A coalition of US states has begun a trial in California accusing Meta of deliberately making Instagram and Facebook addictive for minors and misleading the public about platform safety. The case seeks $200 billion in damages and significant changes to the company's operations.

A significant legal challenge to Meta's business practices commenced in Oakland, California, as four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—filed suit against the technology company over allegations that its platforms cause harm to children. The trial represents part of a broader action initiated in 2023 by a coalition of 29 states targeting what they characterize as deliberately addictive features engineered into Instagram and Facebook.

According to the states' legal team, Meta misrepresented the safety of its applications to the public while simultaneously designing them to maximize engagement among minors. The complaint also alleges the company violated privacy protections by collecting data on children under 13 without parental authorization. Kentucky's attorney general Russell Coleman framed the action as "the largest consumer protection lawsuit in American history," asserting that Meta prioritized profits over the wellbeing of young users.

Meta's leadership has disputed these characterizations, stating the company maintains a strong record of implementing protections for teenagers on its platforms and has invested significantly in safety measures. The company indicated it would present evidence to support this position during proceedings.

Key witnesses expected to provide testimony include Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and former Meta employee Arturo Bejar, whose involvement Meta attempted to prevent. An eight-person advisory jury will hear the case, though ultimate authority rests with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The trial is anticipated to conclude within six to eight weeks, with a verdict expected by October. The states are seeking $200 billion in damages alongside substantial operational changes to Meta's core platforms.