Landmark trial on Meta’s impact on children’s mental health begins in US

What the report says

A major US trial opened in California on Tuesday in a case brought by 29 state attorneys general against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The states, led by California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky, argue that the company designed its platforms in ways that harmed young users’ mental health and encouraged excessive use. The proceeding is taking place in federal court before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, with an eight-person jury serving in an advisory role.

In opening statements, California Deputy Attorney General Megan O’Neill said the states believe Meta built its products to keep users engaged, collect data and obscure the risks. The coalition’s lawsuit, filed in 2023, also alleges that Meta gathered information on children under 13 in violation of federal law. The states are seeking changes to the platforms, including tighter age restrictions and an end to the infinite-scroll design, along with financial penalties.

Meta has rejected the claims, saying they lack evidence and that the company already provides protections for teenagers, including Instagram Teen Accounts and parental time-limit tools. The company has tried unsuccessfully to end the case before trial. Al Jazeera reported that the lawsuit stems in part from former Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s 2021 testimony, which raised concerns that the company prioritized growth and profit over user safety. The case is one of several youth-focused social media lawsuits facing Meta in the US.