Meta faces multi-state trial over claims it designed apps to hook kids

OAKLAND, Calif. - Meta Platforms is in federal court facing claims from state attorneys general that it designed social apps to keep young users hooked and misled families about safety, according to Reuters, NPR, and ABC News.

The trial in the Northern District of California centers on a 2023 lawsuit by a bipartisan coalition of 29 state attorneys general. California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are presenting the addiction and consumer-protection case. States also allege Meta illegally collected and used children's data in violation of federal law.

Attorneys for the states say Facebook and Instagram prioritized engagement and profits over youth mental health. Meta has called key allegations unsubstantiated and has argued in related litigation that social media addiction is not a formally recognized medical diagnosis in the way plaintiffs describe.

The company faces thousands of related suits from states, school districts, and individuals. Google's YouTube, TikTok parent ByteDance, and Snap are also defendants in the wider wave of youth-harm cases. Earlier this year, a New Mexico jury found Meta violated state consumer protection law in a child-safety case, and other courts have issued large awards that remain subject to appeal.

Meta has said age limits are hard to enforce because users lie about their age and that it no longer sets goals to maximize screen time. The company denies it designed products to harm children.

For families, the trial is a public airing of design features such as endless feeds, notifications, and recommendation systems. Whatever the verdict, pediatric and school groups continue to urge time limits, delayed accounts for young children, and open talks with teens about online pressure.

The Oakland case is one of several major tests of how far courts will go in forcing product changes or large penalties against social platforms.