Why are 29 US states taking Meta to court?
A coalition of 29 US states is taking Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to court over allegations that its platforms were deliberately designed to encourage compulsive use among children and teenagers. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, claims Meta knew about potential risks to young users while continuing to prioritise engagement. The landmark federal trial is currently underway in Oakland, California.
What exactly are the states accusing Meta of?
The states allege that Meta used features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, personalised recommendations, visible likes and engagement metrics to keep young users on its platforms for longer. They argue that these features create an attention-capture loop, particularly affecting children and teenagers whose brains are still developing.
How does the case involve children’s mental health?
The lawsuit links Meta’s products to alleged harms including compulsive use and problems affecting young people’s mental and physical wellbeing. However, these remain allegations being contested in court, rather than findings that Meta has already been legally proven to have caused such harm. Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar has testified about concerns he says the company knew about regarding young users.
Did Meta allegedly violate children’s privacy laws too?
Yes. The states also accuse Meta of collecting personal information from children under 13 without the required parental consent, potentially violating the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). They further allege that Meta failed to adequately prevent under-13 users from accessing its platforms despite stated age restrictions.
Could Meta really face $1.4 trillion?
The headline figure needs context. Meta has disclosed potential financial exposure of up to about $1.4 trillion under certain legal theories. However, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has clarified that the states are not specifically demanding a $1.4 trillion payment. The figure represents potential exposure discussed in the litigation, not an amount Meta has been ordered to pay.
What changes do the states want from Meta?
The states are seeking significant changes to Facebook and Instagram, including stronger age verification, restrictions on infinite scroll and autoplay, changes to recommendation systems and engagement metrics, limits on notifications, greater parental involvement and restrictions on the use of children’s data.
How is Meta defending itself?
Meta denies the allegations and says it has invested heavily in protecting teenagers. Its defence points to measures including Teen Accounts, content restrictions, safety warnings, break reminders and efforts to identify underage users. The company also disputes the characterisation of its platforms as inherently addictive and challenges the alleged causal link between its products and the harms claimed by the states.
Why could this trial change social media?
The case goes beyond whether harmful content appears on social media. At its heart is a much bigger question: can the design of a technology platform itself become a child-safety and consumer-protection violation? If the states succeed, Meta could face major restrictions on how Instagram and Facebook are built and operated, potentially influencing similar cases involving other social media companies.
What happens next?
The trial is continuing before US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The proceedings could have major consequences for Meta and the wider technology industry. For now, the allegations remain contested, but the case could become a landmark test of how far governments can go in regulating the design of social media for young users.