Meta faces landmark US trial over claims Facebook and Instagram are addictive to children

Meta has gone on trial in a major US federal case over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to be addictive to children and teenagers.

The trial began in Oakland, California, on Tuesday and forms part of legal action originally brought by 29 US states. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the case at trial.

The states allege that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to encourage young people to spend increasing amounts of time on the platforms, while misleading users about their safety.

They also accuse the company of improperly collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent, in alleged violation of federal children’s privacy law.

The potential financial consequences are substantial. Meta has previously said in court filings that penalties sought by the four states could reach as much as $1.4 trillion. The company has disputed that figure and argued that it is not supported by the evidence.

The states are seeking more than financial penalties. They are also pursuing changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate, with proposals including restrictions on certain features used by young people and changes to how children’s data is handled.

Meta denies wrongdoing. The company says it has prioritised the safety of teenagers and invested in measures designed to protect younger users.

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are among the senior executives expected to testify during the proceedings.

The trial is expected to run for around six weeks. An advisory jury will hear the evidence, but US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately determine Meta’s liability.

The case is being closely watched because its outcome could have implications beyond Meta, particularly for how social media companies design products used by children and teenagers and the responsibilities they have for protecting younger users.

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