Meta is on trial in Oakland this week in a case experts call social media's "tobacco moment" after states accused the company of designing addictive features for children. Four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—are pressing a representative federal case, with jury selection starting today and opening statements on August 18. Plaintiffs seek sweeping changes to Meta's apps and up to $1.4 trillion in penalties; Meta denies the allegations and vows to defend its record on protecting teens. The trial's outcome could shape future regulation and thousands of related lawsuits.
Meta’s ‘Tobacco Moment’: High-Stakes Trial Over Alleged Harm To Children Opens In Oakland
With billions of users around the world, Meta will defend itself against allegations of harming children in a new trial in the United States this week (Brendan SMIALOWSKI)
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is defending itself this week in a high-profile federal trial that experts say could be social media’s equivalent of the tobacco litigation of the 1990s.
A coalition of states sued Meta in 2023, alleging the company deliberately engineered features designed to be addictive to children. Four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—were chosen to present a representative case in federal court in Oakland, with jury selection beginning today and opening statements scheduled for August 18.
Central Allegations And Meta’s Response
Lead prosecutors will argue that Meta intentionally made platforms such as Facebook and Instagram addictive to underage users by prioritizing engagement and growth over safety. Meta has strongly disputed the claims. A company spokesperson told AFP that Meta "strongly disagrees with these allegations" and is "confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people," adding that it has "listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement."
Why Observers Compare It To Tobacco Cases
Experts draw parallels to the 1990s tobacco litigation because both sets of cases focus on corporate business practices and whether companies concealed research or downplayed risks. Vincent Joralemon, director at Berkeley's Life Sciences Law and Policy Center, said the litigation "really feels like tobacco in the 1990s," pointing to the potential for reputational damage and sweeping remedies beyond monetary penalties.
"The huge issue here is reputational harm," Joralemon said. "Putting a CEO on the witness stand can be quite damning." Mark Zuckerberg is expected to be a star witness in the Oakland trial.
Damages, Remedies And Broader Stakes
In Oakland, the states seek a broad set of remedies to change how Meta’s apps operate and financial penalties that could reach as high as $1.4 trillion—an amount close to Meta’s market value, which hovers near $1.5 trillion. While that figure is headline-grabbing, experts say forcing product changes or exposing internal knowledge could be more significant than monetary damages.
Meta has faced related rulings before: the company was found liable on similar claims in separate trials in Los Angeles and New Mexico, with combined damages approaching $1 billion. The outcome in Oakland could shape future litigation and regulation of social platforms worldwide.
Wider Legal Landscape
Thousands of related lawsuits are progressing. In May, Snap, TikTok, YouTube and Meta settled with a Kentucky school district for $27 million to avoid a test trial that might have set a national precedent for roughly 1,200 similar cases. A federal appeals court recently ruled that more than 3,000 additional lawsuits targeting Meta, Google (YouTube’s parent), Snap and TikTok may proceed.
Observers warn the legal battles could stretch for years, but the immediate courtroom showdown in Oakland will be closely watched for how far courts and regulators will go to curb business practices that critics say harm young users.
What To Watch: testimony from company executives, internal documents about product design and safety, and any court-ordered remedies that could change how social platforms operate.
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