More than half of U.S. states have launched a federal trial against Meta, accusing the company of designing addictive social-media features and collecting data on children under 13 without consent. The 233-page complaint, filed by 29 states in October 2023, seeks both monetary damages—potentially up to $200 billion—and court-ordered product-design changes to protect young users. Meta denies the claims and calls the financial demands excessive. The six- to eight-week trial in Oakland will feature internal Meta research and possible testimony from top executives and a whistleblower.
More Than Half of U.S. States Take Meta to Trial Over Alleged Child Addiction and Data Violations
The sweeping legal proceedings could have profound consequences for the social media company.Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
More than half of U.S. states have opened an unprecedented federal trial against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, accusing it of designing addictive features that target young users and of collecting children’s data without proper consent. The multidistrict lawsuit, filed by 29 states in October 2023, began in federal court in Oakland, California, and is expected to run six to eight weeks.
Key Players and Witnesses
Prosecutors say testimony may include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and former employee–turned–whistleblower Arturo Béjar. The trial is being led by attorneys from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, though all 29 states are parties to the case.
What the States Allege
The 233-page complaint alleges Meta routinely gathered data on children under 13 without parental consent, violating federal and state laws. Attorneys general contend Meta intentionally built and refined psychologically manipulative features—such as infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations, persistent notifications, "likes," and image-altering filters—to maximize user engagement and profit despite knowing the risks to young people.
"Meta designed a dangerous product for young users, knew it to be dangerous, and then lied to children, families and the community about how dangerous it was," said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Evidence and Potential Consequences
Prosecutors plan to introduce internal Meta research, including a 2019 survey of 2,500 teens, which reportedly found that many young users recognize Instagram hurts their mental health but feel compelled to keep using it to avoid missing out. The states say excessive time on social platforms can contribute to depression, anxiety, eating disorders and other harms.
If found liable, the states argue damages could reach as high as $200 billion—an amount plaintiffs say roughly equals Meta's projected 2025 revenue. Beyond monetary relief, the states seek court-ordered product-design changes intended to make Meta's services safer for children.
Meta's Response and Wider Context
Meta denies the allegations, characterizing the states' demands as an attempt to extract an unreasonable payout. The company has argued that many claims reflect industry-wide challenges such as age verification and that the plaintiffs have not shown residents were misled.
The federal case follows other recent legal defeats for Meta, including a New Mexico ruling ordering the company to pay $567 million—bringing total New Mexico payments to $942 million—and numerous coordinated state and federal suits targeting major social platforms. Plaintiffs and state attorneys general have compared their legal strategy to the tobacco litigation of the 1990s, which focused on addictive product design and corporate knowledge of harm.
What to Watch
- Testimony from senior Meta executives and internal documents presented at trial.
- Whether a jury awards monetary damages and whether judges order changes to product design or policies.
- How rulings in this trial influence ongoing and future cases against other social platforms.
The outcome could reshape how social media platforms design products for minors and how companies are held accountable for harms tied to user engagement and data collection.
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