Meta Platforms will begin a federal trial in Oakland, California, on Tuesday to address a lawsuit brought by four states. Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey allege that the parent company of Facebook and Instagram designed its platforms to encourage compulsive use by children. The states further claim that Meta misled the public regarding the mental health risks associated with its products and collected data from minors in violation of federal privacy laws.
The lawsuit is part of a broader trend of litigation aimed at holding social media companies responsible for product design features. Legal experts have compared these cases to previous landmark litigation involving the tobacco and opioid industries. Earlier this year, Meta lost two similar cases in state courts, including a $6 million verdict in Los Angeles regarding social media addiction and a $567 million order in New Mexico concerning child safety protections.
The plaintiffs argue that features like the "like" button, infinite-scroll, and recommendation algorithms were specifically deployed to capture and prolong the attention of young users for advertising revenue. Meta, however, contends that the states' claims are unsubstantiated and the financial demands are "vastly disproportionate." A company spokesperson stated that Meta has a record of creating strong protections for teenagers and that the features being challenged are benign.
For the ordinary user, the outcome could result in concrete day-to-day changes to social media interfaces. If the states prevail, features like the infinite scroll or recommendation algorithms could be legally restricted or removed. Parents and students might notice new age-verification requirements or more stringent parental controls. The litigation also focuses on whether Meta violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which could change how personal data is collected from children under 13.
The trial is expected to last approximately six weeks, but the knock-on effects could persist for years. Legal experts suggest the case will clarify whether platform designs are protected by the First Amendment or Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which typically shields platforms from liability for user content. A ruling against Meta would likely be appealed, potentially reaching the Supreme Court. The trial begins this week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.