Meta Trial Opens: States Allege Facebook Hooked Children on Social Media

One of the biggest legal challenges ever faced by Meta began on 19 August in Oakland, California, as attorneys for 29 US states — including California and New York — argued before a jury that the company had deliberately ensnared an entire generation of children on Facebook and Instagram while concealing the harm this caused.

What the states allege

California's lead attorney Megan O'Neill presented internal documents showing Meta was aware that its platforms were damaging to teen mental health yet did little to address the problem. Internal research stated: "Teens have an addict's narrative about use." Another company document acknowledged that "product features designed to increase time spent are inherently at odds with well-being." O'Neill said Meta found millions of 11- and 12-year-olds on Instagram but "did little to keep them off".

Meta's defence

Meta's legal team contested the scale of underage users, saying only around 100,000 such accounts were found. More importantly, the company flatly denied that social media addiction exists as a clinical concept. Meta argued that the overwhelming majority of teen users had positive experiences and that the company's efforts to improve safety were being ignored by the prosecution.

What states are seeking

The 29 states are demanding billions of dollars in damages and major structural changes to Instagram and Facebook, including eliminating "like" counts and the infinite scroll feature. The trial is expected to last around six weeks before the Oakland jury.