Meta faces major US trial over alleged youth social media addiction

Meta faces a high-stakes trial in California over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to keep minors hooked. A coalition of U.S. states is seeking sweeping changes to the platforms and potentially up to $1.4 trillion in penalties.

Jury selection begins Wednesday in federal court in Oakland, with opening arguments scheduled for August 18. The trial is expected to last about six weeks and could culminate in testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The case was brought by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey on behalf of around 30 states that sued Meta in 2023.

Prosecutors accuse the company of violating consumer protection laws and federal rules governing children's data by designing features that encourage prolonged use by minors.

Billions at stake

The states are seeking penalties that could theoretically reach $1.4 trillion, a figure close to Meta's market value.

However, the judge has questioned the scale of that estimate, describing it as unreasonable.

The jury's role will also be largely advisory, with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers expected to determine any penalties and remedies.

The greater threat to Meta could be the requirement to substantially redesign features of Facebook and Instagram used by young people.

Zuckerberg expected to testify

Zuckerberg is among the high-profile witnesses expected to appear during the proceedings.

Prosecutors are expected to focus on what Meta knew about the effects of its products on young users and whether the company publicly downplayed those risks.

The case has drawn comparisons with litigation against the tobacco industry, where state-level lawsuits eventually resulted in major financial settlements and restrictions on marketing to minors.

Meta rejects addiction claims

Meta strongly disputes the allegations and says it is confident the evidence will demonstrate its long-standing commitment to protecting young people.

The company says it has worked with parents, experts and law enforcement and argues that young people's mental health cannot be attributed to any single social media platform.

Meta also disputes the characterization of problematic social media use as a medically recognized addiction.

Features under scrutiny

The states' case focuses on the design of the platforms rather than content posted by users.

Prosecutors are expected to point to features such as infinite scrolling, notifications and engagement tools including “likes” as mechanisms designed to keep minors online for longer.

The legal strategy also seeks to avoid protections that generally shield platforms from liability for content posted by their users.

Growing legal pressure

The trial comes after Meta faced two significant legal defeats this year.

The company was ordered, jointly with YouTube, to pay $6 million to a Los Angeles teenager and was later ordered to pay nearly $1 billion in penalties and damages in New Mexico over allegations concerning harm to children.

Meanwhile, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok are also facing thousands of lawsuits from families and educational bodies.

In May, the four companies agreed to pay $27 million collectively to avoid a test case brought by a Kentucky school district.

With litigation against social media companies expanding across the United States, legal experts warn the battle over the impact of these platforms on young people could continue for decades.