Meta Faces Landmark Trial Over Youth Addiction Claims

A landmark trial against Meta begins in California on Wednesday, as a coalition of US states accuses the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to encourage addictive use among children and teenagers. The case could expose the tech giant to massive financial penalties and sweeping changes to its platforms.

Colorado, Kentucky, California, and New Jersey allege that Meta misled the public about the safety of its social media platforms. Another 29 states accuse the company of unlawfully collecting and using children's personal data. Jury selection begins on Wednesday, with opening statements scheduled for 18 August. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are expected to testify.

The states are seeking not only financial damages but also changes to how Meta's platforms operate, including stronger age-verification measures, the removal of infinite scrolling, tighter limits on screen time and changes to recommendation algorithms. Meta has estimated its potential financial exposure at up to $1.4tn, although the states have not disclosed the amount they are seeking.

Meta denies the allegations, saying it has invested heavily in protecting young users and introducing new safety features. The trial is expected to last about seven weeks. Separately, the company continues to face thousands of lawsuits alleging that its platforms have harmed the mental health of children and adolescents.

(Reuters, bak)