More than half of the US states have joined forces in a major Meta lawsuit, accusing the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp of designing its platforms in ways that allegedly encourage addictive use and harm young people.
The trial is scheduled to begin on August 18 in a federal court in California and is expected to continue for between six and eight weeks. The case could become one of the most significant legal challenges facing Meta over the impact of social media platforms on children and teenagers.
The lawsuit has been filed by 29 states, with the attorneys general of California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky leading the legal team. The states originally filed the case in October 2023, submitting a 233-page complaint that outlined their allegations against the social media giant.
According to the states, Meta collected personal information from children under the age of 13 without obtaining parental permission, allegedly violating federal and state laws. Prosecutors also accuse the company of refusing to remove or restrict features they say can be harmful to young users, arguing that Meta’s focus was driven by financial incentives.
The court is expected to hear testimony from several prominent figures. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are among those expected to appear, along with former Meta employee and whistleblower Arturo Béjar, who has previously raised concerns about the company’s handling of issues affecting young users.
The states are seeking damages of up to $200 billion, an amount they say could be equivalent to Meta’s annual revenue in 2025. They are also asking the court to require Meta to make changes to the design of its platforms and introduce measures aimed at making Facebook and Instagram safer for children.
Meta has rejected the allegations and argued that the states’ case is aimed at obtaining billions of dollars rather than being based on facts or law. The company has described the claims as unfounded and said the financial demands are inappropriate, while arguing that the states’ attorneys lack sufficient evidence to support their case.
The Meta lawsuit comes as the company faces increasing legal scrutiny over the potential effects of social media on young people. State attorneys allege that Meta developed features designed to keep users spending more time on its platforms, with young people particularly vulnerable to those practices.
The trial also follows a recent New Mexico ruling that imposed a $567 million penalty on Meta in a similar case, while another related lawsuit remains pending in Tennessee.
