Meta faces a landmark US trial today in California over claims it deliberately made Instagram and Facebook addictive to children. The tech giant could face significant financial penalties and reputational damage if found to have designed its platforms to keep younger users hooked.
The trial involves California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, with a further 25 states expected to bring similar cases. These states are seeking billions of dollars in damages and changes to features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and recommendation algorithms.
Mark Jones, an online safety expert, described the case as potentially Big Tech's "big tobacco moment." The states also allege Meta collected personal data from children under 13 without parental consent, which would breach US federal law.
Meta denies the allegations, stating it is "proud" of its record in protecting teenagers and the safeguards it has developed. The company stated it looks forward to presenting these facts in court.
Professor Miriam Buiten, a law and economics professor, noted that forcing Meta to alter core platform features would directly impact the economics of social media, which relies on user engagement. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the six-to-eight-week proceedings, with a verdict anticipated this autumn.