Meta Faces Lawsuit from 29 States Over Teen Addiction Allegations

Meta faces a joint lawsuit from 29 U.S. states accusing the tech giant of intentionally designing its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, to be addictive for children and adolescents. The trial began in a California federal court, with plaintiffs arguing that Meta deliberately created features to hook young users and concealed the potential harms of social media.

State attorneys general are seeking significant penalties, with four states demanding up to $1.4 trillion. Beyond financial repercussions, the lawsuit aims to compel Meta to change its platform designs, potentially impacting how its products operate. The states also accuse Meta of mishandling personal data of users under 13.

During the trial's first day, a former Meta executive testified that the company prioritized speed over safety in product development. He shared personal experiences regarding his daughter's use of Instagram, citing exposure to inappropriate content and unwanted contact. Meta, however, denies intentionally addicting young users and asserts it has implemented various safety features for minors.

This is not the first legal challenge for Meta regarding youth usage. A previous ruling in New Mexico ordered Meta to pay $942 million in penalties and implement stricter age verification and usage restrictions for minors in that state. The ongoing trial is expected to last about six weeks.

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The company prioritized speed when launching new products, but safety issues did not receive the same level of attention.