Meta meets its own 'tobacco' moment in court

A landmark trial is set to commence this week in the United States, with Meta facing allegations that its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, were designed to be addictive to children, akin to the tobacco industry's reckoning in the 1990s. Four states - California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey - have joined forces to sue Meta, alleging that the company knowingly made its apps addictive for minors.

The states aim to prove in federal court that Meta deliberately engineered features to exploit children's vulnerability to addiction. Meta strongly denies these claims, asserting that it has always prioritized the safety and well-being of young users. The case, described by experts as social media's big tobacco moment, hinges on Meta's business practices, drawing parallels to the landmark tobacco lawsuits in the 1990s where states successfully forced tobacco companies to make significant changes and pay billions in damages.

The trial, set to begin on Wednesday, will feature Meta's founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, as a key witness, potentially setting a precedent for future lawsuits against social media giants.