Meta Faces Tennessee Trial Over Instagram Addiction Claims

Jury selection began on Monday in Nashville as Meta Platforms went on trial in Tennessee over allegations that Instagram was deliberately engineered to hook teenagers. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, accuses Meta of violating the state’s consumer‑protection law by knowingly designing features such as autoplay videos, Reels, frequent notifications and disappearing content to promote compulsive use, and by hiding internal research showing harmful effects on teen mental health.

The state is seeking financial penalties of up to $1,000 per violation and a court order requiring changes to Instagram’s design. Meta argues it already provides age‑appropriate safety settings and that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields it from liability for third‑party content. The case follows other state actions, including a $375 million verdict in New Mexico and a $9 million settlement with a Kentucky school district, and could set a de facto national standard for social‑media design if the jury rules against the company.