Meta accused of making Facebook, Instagram addictive to young users

# Meta Faces Major Trial Over Claims That Instagram and Facebook Hooked Young Users

Meta is facing a major legal battle in California over allegations that it deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram to keep young users engaged for excessive periods. A jury in Oakland has begun hearing arguments in a trial expected to continue for roughly six weeks, with lawyers representing several U.S. states challenging the company’s approach to child safety and platform design.

During opening arguments, a California attorney accused Meta of knowing that large numbers of children were using Instagram while doing little to prevent them from accessing the platform. The lawyer claimed internal company documents showed Meta was aware of potential risks to teenagers’ mental health and understood that certain product features were designed to increase the amount of time users spent on its services.

The case centers on a 2023 lawsuit brought by 29 U.S. states. The states allege that Meta violated laws designed to protect children and their privacy while intentionally developing features that could encourage prolonged and potentially compulsive use. Prosecutors are seeking billions of dollars in damages and want Meta to make changes to features such as infinite scrolling and public “like” counts.

California attorney Megan O’Neill pointed the jury toward millions of pages of internal Meta documents, including employee communications, research and discussions involving senior executives. One internal study referenced teenagers describing their Instagram use in terms associated with addiction.

The states also argue that Meta recognized a conflict between maximizing user engagement and protecting users’ well-being. According to the attorneys, internal discussions acknowledged that features designed to increase time spent on the platforms could interfere with users’ ability to focus on activities that provide greater value.

Meta strongly disputes those claims. The company’s lawyer, Paul Schmidt, told the court that while some people may struggle with social media use, there is no clear scientific evidence establishing that adolescent social media use directly causes poor well-being. Meta also rejected the characterization of its platforms as intentionally addictive.

The company further challenged claims about the number of young children using Instagram. While the states argued that Meta had identified millions of 11- and 12-year-olds on the platform, Meta said its own figures showed a much smaller number of roughly 100,000 users in that age group.

Meta has also argued that the states are focusing heavily on negative experiences while overlooking the many teenagers who use its platforms without experiencing serious problems. The company maintains that its goal is to improve its services rather than deliberately make them harmful.

The case could have major consequences for Meta if the court ultimately finds the company liable. Judge Rogers could impose civil penalties and require changes to the way Facebook and Instagram operate.

The trial comes as social media platforms face growing pressure over their impact on children and teenagers. In a separate case earlier this year, Meta and Google were ordered to pay $3 million to a young woman who alleged that she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube after using the platforms as a child.

The outcome of the California case could therefore extend beyond Meta, potentially influencing how technology companies design social media products for younger users and how regulators approach digital addiction and child safety in the future.