A coalition of 29 U.S. states will begin presenting its case against Meta Platforms in federal court in California on Tuesday, accusing the company of designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that harmed the mental health of children and teenagers. The trial, before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, could have major implications for the future of youth-focused social media regulation.
The states allege that Meta made its platforms addictive for young users, misled consumers about safety and improperly collected children’s personal data. Meta is expected to argue that it has invested heavily in protecting teenagers and that the states have failed to prove actual harm. CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri are expected to testify during the multiweek trial.
The case is being closely watched as one of the biggest tests yet of litigation over social media’s impact on young people. The states could seek penalties potentially reaching hundreds of billions of dollars, while they are also asking the judge to require nationwide changes such as age restrictions and limits on infinite scrolling. The lawsuit stems from a multistate investigation launched after whistleblower Frances Haugen’s disclosures about Meta’s handling of youth safety concerns.
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