A major legal proceeding began in Oakland, California regarding allegations that Meta engaged in practices designed to addict young users to its social media platforms. The case represents the most significant litigation the company has faced and will involve a jury examining claims from attorneys representing multiple US states over the course of six weeks.
State attorneys, led by California’s legal team, presented arguments that Meta knowingly maintained millions of young users on Instagram despite awareness of potential harms. The states’ lawyers referenced internal company documents, including research findings and communications, to demonstrate that Meta was aware of negative impacts on teen mental health and well-being. According to the states’ opening statements, Meta’s internal research indicated that product features were designed to maximize time spent on platforms in ways that conflicted with user welfare. The states contend that despite public messaging about platform safety, Meta prioritized user engagement and data collection over child protection.
Meta’s legal representatives disputed the characterization of their platforms as addictive, arguing that social media addiction is not a recognized condition supported by research. The company’s attorneys pointed to internal data showing that while some teenagers reported negative experiences, substantial percentages also reported positive effects or neutral impacts. Meta also addressed claims about underage user detection, suggesting that privacy regulations themselves limited the company’s ability to collect and use data necessary for effective age verification.
The lawsuit was originally filed in 2023 by 29 states, including California and New York, alleging violations of federal and state privacy laws. The states are seeking billions of dollars in damages and demanding structural changes to Meta’s platforms, including modifications to engagement features such as “like” counts and infinite scroll functionality.
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