Meta is facing a major US trial over allegations that its platforms exposed children to harmful features, collected data improperly and contributed to mental health problems.
Meta is facing a high-profile legal battle in the United States over allegations that its social media platforms contributed to harm among children and teenagers.
Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are taking the company to court in Oakland, California. The case focuses on claims that Meta deliberately designed features on Instagram and its other platforms to keep young users engaged for longer periods.
The states also accuse the company of violating child privacy regulations and misleading users about the safety of its services.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 29 US states against Meta.
Four states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — are participating in the current trial. The proceedings are being heard before US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the Northern District of California.
The trial is attracting significant attention because it could examine how major social media companies design products for young users. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri are also expected to provide testimony.
A central part of the allegations involves features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and likes.
The states argue that Meta intentionally developed and adjusted these features to encourage users, particularly younger audiences, to spend more time on its platforms.
According to the allegations, these design choices may contribute to prolonged and repeated social media use among children and teenagers.
The attorneys general also claim that Meta knew about potential connections between its platforms and mental health concerns but did not adequately address the risks.
The lawsuit alleges that Meta's platforms have been associated with serious mental health concerns among young users.
The states claim the company was aware of research and internal information concerning issues such as anxiety, depression and suicide, yet continued operating features that allegedly encouraged extended engagement.
However, these remain allegations in the ongoing legal proceedings. Meta has rejected the claims and disputes the states' interpretation of its products and their impact on users.
The legal case also includes allegations related to children's online privacy.
The states claim that Meta allowed children under the age of 13 to use its services and collected their personal information without obtaining the required parental consent.
The allegations involve the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a US law designed to protect the personal information of children online.
If the court accepts the states' arguments, the case could have broader implications for how social media companies handle young users and their personal data.
One of the most significant aspects of the case is the potential financial exposure for Meta. The company has argued that damages sought by the states could reach approximately $1.4 trillion, a figure close to its overall market value of around $1.5 trillion.
Meta has strongly challenged the states' claims and described their financial demands as disproportionate.
The company has also argued that the attorneys general have not established that users in their respective states were actually misled or harmed by the platform features cited in the lawsuit.
Meta has denied the allegations and is defending its products and business practices in court. The company has described the states' claims as unsubstantiated and questioned the basis for the potential damages.
The legal battle could therefore become an important test of how responsibility is assigned to technology companies over the design of social media platforms and their potential effects on young users.
The case is part of a much larger wave of litigation involving Meta and other social media companies across the United States.
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed over alleged links between social media use and issues including addiction, mental health problems and other harms.
The growing number of cases has increased scrutiny of how platforms are designed, particularly when their services are used by children and teenagers.
Meta has already faced other significant legal cases concerning alleged mental health impacts.
Earlier this month, a New Mexico district court ordered Meta to pay $567 million in a case related to teen mental health issues in the state. The company was also ordered to pay $375 million in civil penalties.
In another case in March, a jury found Meta and YouTube negligent over allegations that their platforms contributed to social media addiction, anxiety, depression, self-harm and body dysmorphia.
The companies were ordered to pay $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages in that case.
The outcome of the current case could have implications beyond Meta. A decision against the company could encourage additional legal challenges involving social media design, child safety, privacy and mental health.
It could also increase pressure on technology companies to reconsider how engagement-driven features are developed and marketed to younger users.
For Meta, the case represents another major legal and reputational challenge as regulators, lawmakers and families continue to scrutinise the impact of social media on children.
Conclusion
Meta's child safety trial highlights growing concerns about how social media platforms are designed and how those features may affect young users.
The states' allegations cover platform engagement tools, children's privacy and potential mental health risks, while Meta continues to deny wrongdoing. With potential damages reportedly reaching $1.4 trillion, the case could become one of the most consequential legal battles involving a major technology company.