Meta faces landmark federal trial over teen mental health and addiction

A landmark federal trial has commenced in Oakland, California, against Meta Platforms. A coalition of state attorneys general, including those from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, alleges that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children and teenagers, contributing to a mental health crisis.

The lawsuit claims Meta utilized psychologically manipulative features—such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and engagement-optimized algorithms—to maximize user time on platforms while knowingly ignoring potential harms to youth mental health. Additionally, the states allege Meta violated federal law by collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent.

Financial and structural stakes are unprecedented. Meta has estimated that potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion, a figure nearly equal to its market capitalization, though legal experts suggest a more realistic penalty might be around $200 billion. Beyond monetary fines, the states are seeking significant product changes, including the removal of certain algorithms, the implementation of parental verification processes, and the elimination of features like infinite scroll and autoplay.