Meta faces trial over child addiction claims on Facebook and Instagram

Meta Platforms Inc. faces a landmark lawsuit in California, with state attorneys alleging that the company deliberately designed its Facebook and Instagram services to foster addiction among children in order to boost advertising revenue. The case, opened on Tuesday, marks the first criminal‑style trial to scrutinize the internal strategies of a major tech firm, and prosecutors have presented internal documents and testimony suggesting that product features were engineered to maximize screen time among minors. The lawsuit contends that Meta ignored known harms, failed to implement adequate age‑verification safeguards, and prioritized profit over user well‑being, seeking damages and injunctive relief that could force substantial changes to the platforms’ design and data‑collection practices.

Legal experts say the outcome could have far‑reaching implications for the broader technology sector, potentially prompting stricter regulatory oversight and prompting other companies to reassess how they engage younger audiences. If the court rules against Meta, the verdict may lead to mandatory modifications to user interfaces, limits on algorithmic content targeting, and heightened transparency requirements. The trial, expected to last several weeks, will be closely watched by policymakers, industry leaders, and consumer‑advocacy groups as a pivotal test of accountability for social‑media giants.