Twenty-nine US states launched a landmark trial against Meta in California federal court, alleging that Facebook and Instagram are intentionally designed to hook children, harvest data, and drive youth addiction. Prosecutors are seeking roughly $200 billion in damages, while the tech giant denies wrongdoing and defends its age-protection measures.
Opening statements in the high-stakes federal trial began on Tuesday before District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in California, bringing a bipartisan coalition of 29 states face-to-face with the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Led by states including California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Kentucky, the plaintiffs argue that Meta purposefully engineered its popular social media applications to foster excessive use and damage the mental health of young users.
While an eight-person jury is seated for the proceedings, their role is strictly advisory as Judge Rogers will ultimately decide the outcome of the weeks-long case. The legal battle carries existential financial weight for the Silicon Valley behemoth, with state attorneys general indicating the legal penalties could reach around $200 billion.
Deputy California Attorney General Megan O’Neill Details Allegations
Speaking to the court on Tuesday, Deputy California Attorney General Megan O’Neill laid out the states’ core argument, contending that Meta’s commercial strategy prioritizes engagement at the expense of children’s well-being. According to the prosecution, the platform architecture exploits the vulnerabilities of young demographics.
“hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data and then hide the truth from the public.”
Megan O’Neill, Deputy California Attorney General
O’Neill asserted that these mechanics worked especially well for kids
, who are exceptionally susceptible to algorithmic loops. To support the claim that Meta recognized and leveraged youth vulnerability, prosecutors pointed to an internal corporate document titled The Young Ones are the Best Ones
, according to reporting from Fox Business.
The bipartisan coalition argues that the resulting addiction manifests in severe public health consequences, including anxiety, depression, and suicide. Prosecutors also claim Meta violated federal law by collecting data on children under the age of 13, maintaining a veneer of safety for concerned parents while courting underage users.
Meta Rejects Claims and Cites Teen Protections
Meta has consistently pushed back against the litigation, maintaining that the states’ accusations lack legal foundation and rely on exaggerated financial demands. Stephanie Otway, a Meta spokesperson, criticized the prosecution’s approach ahead of the trial proceedings.
In statements provided to Al Jazeera, company representatives argued that the coalition offers no proof that anyone in their respective states was misled. Meta contends that features cited by the plaintiffs—such as secondary accounts—are benign and that the states are attempting to penalize the company for industry-wide challenges like age verification.
The company points to recent safety initiatives as evidence of its commitment to young users. These measures include the launch of Instagram Teen Accounts in 2024, which restrict contact channels for underage users, alongside parental controls allowing usage time limits.
Financial Stakes and Prior Legal Penalties
The financial exposure facing Meta in the California courtroom is substantial. Analysts note that fines could theoretically reach as high as $1.4 trillion, a figure sitting just below the company’s $1.5 trillion market capitalization, though the prosecuting coalition is actively seeking roughly $200 billion.
The current federal trial compounds existing legal pressures from separate state-level actions. Meta has already been ordered to pay substantial fines stemming from a New Mexico lawsuit, which includes civil penalties from a March jury verdict and an additional amount ordered by a judge earlier this month.
Meta acknowledged in a January Securities and Exchange Commission filing that litigation surrounding youth social media addiction carries the potential for substantial monetary penalties. On Wall Street, the company’s stock dropped more than 3 percent in midday trading as opening statements commenced.
Origins of the Litigation and Expected Testimony
The legal momentum behind the coalition lawsuit traces back to a 2021 US Senate committee hearing featuring testimony from former Facebook data scientist and whistleblower Frances Haugen. Haugen alleged that leadership under Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg knowingly pushed products detrimental to young users’ health in pursuit of higher profits.
Meta attempted repeatedly to halt the multi-state lawsuit before trial, filing a motion for summary judgment as recently as June to dismiss the case without a trial, following similar unsuccessful efforts in 2024.
The current trial is scheduled to last several weeks. High-profile executive testimony is anticipated, with both Meta co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri expected to take the stand.
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