Social media giant Meta heads to trial Tuesday in Oakland, California, facing a lawsuit from four state attorneys general who allege the company designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive and misled the public about the risks to children. The trial, expected to last four to six weeks, will include testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to court filings.
The case, filed in 2023 by attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, follows a multistate investigation into the platforms’ impact on young users. The states argue Meta violated federal law by collecting personal information from children without parental consent and that its design choices intentionally exploited psychological vulnerabilities.
Also read: Sonic Fire Tech raises $15M to fight fires with sound, not water or chemicals
What the states are alleging
The attorneys general claim Meta’s platforms were engineered to maximize time spent on the apps, using features like infinite scroll, notification triggers, and algorithmic feeds that keep users engaged. They argue the company knew about the potential mental health harms—including anxiety, depression, and body image issues—but downplayed them in public statements.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement after the court allowed the case to proceed, saying, “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.”
Also read: Miami vs. NYC: Developers say Florida's math still works despite rising costs
Meta has denied wrongdoing and disputes that its platforms caused the harm alleged. The company also argues that “social media addiction” isn’t an officially recognized psychiatric diagnosis—a point likely to be a central contention at trial.
Meta’s defense and the stakes
In a statement to FOX Business, a Meta spokesperson called the claims “unsubstantiated” and said the financial demands are “vastly disproportionate.” The spokesperson said the attorneys general “offer no proof anyone in their states was misled” and that the company stands by its “record of creating strong protections for teens.”
Meta has said the damages sought could reach as high as $1.4 trillion—nearly the size of the company’s market capitalization—though the states haven’t disclosed the amount they plan to seek. The company’s stock closed at $589.85 on Friday, down 0.86%.
Legal experts say the trial could set a precedent for how courts treat claims that social media platforms are addictive. Monte Mann, a partner at Armstrong Teasdale, called it a “bellwether case” for the theory that platforms were designed to be addictive and harmful to young users.
Mann said he’ll be watching what internal Meta documents reveal about the company’s knowledge of the compulsive nature of its products. “I will be very interested to see what the internal Meta, Facebook, Instagram documents say about what they knew of the compulsive nature of these products and services; when they knew it; whether they tried to enhance their design elements to take advantage of those things, what they disclosed to the public,” he said.
Recent rulings and what’s next
The Oakland trial is one of several high-profile legal battles involving Meta. Earlier this month, a New Mexico state court ordered Meta to pay $567 million and overhaul its protections for teen users—a ruling Meta said it will appeal. That followed a March ruling ordering Meta to pay $375 million in the same case, bringing the company’s total liability to nearly $942 million.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the Oakland case, has also appointed an advisory jury that can provide recommendations on community standards for children’s social media use. The jury’s feedback could influence the judge’s final decision, though it won’t be binding.
The trial’s outcome could have broader implications for how social media companies design products for minors. Lawsuits from school districts, families, and other states are pending, and a ruling against Meta could embolden similar claims.
As the trial gets underway, the focus will be on the internal documents and testimony from key executives, including Zuckerberg, who is expected to take the stand. The case is being watched closely by legal experts, tech industry observers, and parents’ advocacy groups alike.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Market conditions are volatile, and outcomes of legal proceedings are uncertain.
