Key facts
- Over half of U.S. states are participating in a federal trial against Meta.
- Meta is accused of deliberately designing addictive social media products for young users.
- The lawsuit alleges Meta violates child privacy laws by collecting data on users under 13 without parental consent.
- Plaintiffs claim Meta's features, such as infinite scrolling and constant notifications, encourage compulsive use.
- Internal Meta research suggesting awareness of Instagram's negative impact on teen mental health is expected to be presented.
- States are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in penalties and demanding changes to Meta's product design.
More than half of the U.S. states have initiated a federal trial against Meta, accusing the social media giant of deliberately designing addictive products that harm young users and violate child privacy laws. The trial, taking place in Oakland, California, is expected to last between six and eight weeks.
Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are leading the proceedings, which consolidate thousands of similar lawsuits into multidistrict litigation. The core allegations state that Meta knowingly created psychologically manipulative features, such as infinite scrolling and constant notifications, to maximize user engagement and profit, despite awareness of the negative mental health consequences for young people, including increased depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Internal Meta research, including a 2019 survey of 2,500 teens, is expected to be presented as evidence.
The lawsuit also claims Meta illegally collects data on children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal and state laws like the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The states are seeking up to $1.4 trillion in penalties and are demanding that Meta alter its product designs to enhance child safety.
Meta has denied all allegations, stating that the states are pursuing an "outlandish payout" with unsubstantiated claims and disproportionate financial demands. The company argues that the states offer no proof of deception and attempt to penalize Meta for industry-wide challenges like age verification. This trial follows a recent court order for Meta to pay $567 million to New Mexico in a similar case.