Opening statements begin today in Oakland, California, in what legal experts call the biggest test yet of youth social media litigation: a federal trial pitting a coalition of US states against Meta Platforms over the design of Facebook and Instagram.
The trial before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, expected to last seven weeks, will test allegations by California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey that Meta engineered its platforms to keep young users hooked and misled consumers about their safety. It will also address claims by 29 states that the company illegally collected and used children's data in violation of federal law. Jury selection took place this week, with opening statements slated to begin August 18.
The stakes are extraordinary. Meta has said the states' penalties could reach $1.4 trillion — near its $1.5 trillion market capitalization — in one of the largest civil penalty claims in U.S. history, though the attorneys general have not disclosed how much they may seek. The states also want Judge Rogers to order sweeping changes: age restrictions, deletion of algorithms and AI models made with children's data, elimination of infinite scroll and notifications, and content algorithms rebalanced to prioritize well-being over engagement.
Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri are expected to testify. In an unusual move, Rogers has empaneled an advisory jury to answer specific questions that will guide her ruling, which she will issue after the trial concludes in October. On Monday, Meta lost a last-ditch effort to delay the trial and halt thousands of related lawsuits.
Meta has denied the allegations, saying it has worked to protect young people and arguing that "social media addiction" is not a recognized psychiatric condition. The trial follows two jury verdicts against Meta in youth-safety cases and a New Mexico court order last week requiring the company to pay $567 million for failing to warn the public about risks to children. A Reuters/Ipsos poll last week found 85% of Americans believe social media can be addictive for children.
