Multi-state trial against Meta begins over alleged youth addiction to social media

Published Aug 12, 03:39 PM UTC

A multi-state trial against Meta Platforms Inc., brought by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, begins this week in federal court. The states allege Meta designed Facebook and Instagram features—such as photo filters, like counts, notifications, and algorithmic content curation—to addictively engage youth and teens, causing psychological harm. Meta argues the suit is barred by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from liability for user-generated content. The states counter that the case is about product design, not speech. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will oversee the trial, expected to last seven weeks, with an advisory jury to guide her ruling. This case follows a $567 million judgment against Meta in New Mexico and a federal bellwether case where Meta and Google were ordered to pay damages. If the states prevail, Meta could face massive fines and court-ordered nationwide platform changes.