A trial that could reshape social media regulation began Tuesday in Oakland, California, with attorneys for 29 U.S. states accusing Meta Platforms Inc. of intentionally hooking children on its Facebook and Instagram platforms.
During opening arguments, attorneys presented evidence from Meta's own internal research, including documents showing that young users described Instagram in "addict's narrative" terms and that product features designed to increase engagement were "inherently at odds with well-being."
Lawyers for the states argued that Meta was aware of the potential harm its platforms could inflict on teen mental health and that the company prioritized profits over user safety. "Meta said it put safety over profits, but hid the reality that, time and again, when it came to make a decision, profits won," said Megan O'Neill, a lead attorney for California.
She further alleged that Meta's business model relies on "hooking users; holding them for as long as they can; harvesting their data; [and] hiding the truth from the public when making public statements."
Meta's defense countered these claims, with lead attorney Paul Schmidt arguing that the concept of social media addiction is not scientifically proven. He highlighted internal research that suggested a significant portion of teens reported positive or neutral experiences with Instagram, with only one in five stating it made them feel worse. Schmidt also contended that Meta's ability to verify user ages is hampered by the very privacy laws it is accused of violating.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleges numerous violations of federal and state privacy laws for children. Beyond seeking billions of dollars in damages, the states are demanding that Meta implement significant changes to its platforms, such as ending "like" counts and the infinite scroll feature.
The trial is expected to last six weeks, with a jury tasked with examining the competing narratives and evidence presented by both the states and the social media giant. This marks one of the most significant legal challenges Meta has faced regarding its impact on young users.