Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a historic federal trial where prosecutors allege the tech giant intentionally designed its platforms to be addictive for teenagers and concealed the associated health risks to maximize profits. The trial, which began Tuesday in Oakland, California, involves a coalition of 29 state attorneys general seeking significant changes to Meta's operations and potentially over $1 trillion in damages.
During opening statements, California Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill described Meta's business model using four key actions: "Hook the user, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth." She argued that the company specifically targeted young users, as they are more likely to become hooked and generate long-term revenue through advertising, which forms the bulk of Meta's income. The states contend that core features like the "like button" and recommendation algorithms are intentionally addictive and have contributed to a crisis in teen mental health, including increased rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide.
Prosecutors presented internal Meta communications as evidence, including employee discussions that likened Instagram to a "drug" and referred to themselves as "pushers." O'Neill asserted that Meta's internal data showed younger users were more valuable in the long run for sustained engagement and profit.
Meta's legal team has denied the allegations, characterizing the states' demands as excessive and outside the scope of the case. Attorney Paul Schmidt argued that Meta has a responsibility to protect young users and has implemented measures such as parental oversight tools and usage time limits. He acknowledged that employees sometimes used informal language internally but maintained that the company has taken concrete steps to enhance online safety for minors. Meta has criticized the states' claims as an attempt to achieve an "outlandish payout" rather than adhering to facts and law.
The trial is expected to last approximately six weeks, with Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, and Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, anticipated to testify. O'Neill suggested that a more realistic damages figure could be around $200 billion, downplaying the company's $1.4 trillion estimate as potentially for "shock value."
Beyond financial penalties, the attorneys general are seeking court orders to compel Meta to delete illegally harvested data from children under 13 and cease using algorithms trained on that data. They also aim to prohibit the use of features deemed addictive, such as infinite scroll and autoplay. Such an order would represent a significant disruption to Meta's business model. The company has previously faced substantial penalties, including a nearly $1 billion payment after losing a similar case in New Mexico and a $6 million verdict in a California state court related to hooking a teen on its apps.
Outside the courthouse, families affected by online harms gathered to protest. Mary Rodee, whose 15-year-old son died by suicide after being targeted in a sextortion scheme on Facebook, stated that the system prioritizes corporations over children. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately decide the case, as the jury's verdict will be advisory. In a related development, a massive fire ripped through a Wildberries warehouse in Russia following a Ukrainian drone attack, though this event is unrelated to the Meta trial.