Meta Faces Major US Trial Over Social Media Addiction Among Kids

A landmark legal battle over social media addiction among children and teenagers has begun in the United States, with Meta facing a federal trial in Oakland, California. A coalition of 29 US states has accused the technology giant of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram features to keep young users engaged for longer periods, while allegedly prioritizing profits over their safety and well-being. The states also allege that Meta violated children’s privacy by collecting data from users under 13 without adequate parental consent.

Prosecutors have pointed to features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, autoplay and engagement tools as mechanisms that can encourage compulsive use among young people. They also allege that Meta knew about potential risks to children but failed to adequately address them. Meta has strongly rejected the claims, arguing that the allegations misrepresent its efforts to protect young users and that the states are pursuing excessive financial penalties. The trial is expected to last several weeks, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri among the executives who could be called to testify.

The case has drawn comparisons with the historic “Big Tobacco” litigation in the US, in which states challenged tobacco companies over alleged concealment of health risks and addictive practices. A ruling against Meta could have far-reaching consequences for the design of social media platforms and the way technology companies protect minors online. The litigation could also influence similar cases involving other major social media companies.