Meta trial that could reshape Facebook, Instagram gets underway

A coalition of states, led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, are currently in the midst of a federal trial in Oakland, California, that could significantly impact the future of Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit, which began in 2023, alleges that Meta Platforms designed the platforms to be addictive for young users, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even suicide.

Furthermore, the states claim that Meta misled the public about the safety of its platforms. The case is not about taking away social media altogether, but rather about the responsibility that companies like Meta have in ensuring the well-being of their users, particularly young children and teenagers. Megan O’Neill, the deputy California attorney general, presented her argument to the jury, stating that Meta’s business model relied on hooking users, holding them for as long as possible, collecting their data, and concealing the truth from the public – a strategy that proved particularly effective with young users.

The trial, expected to last six weeks, will address claims that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young users, resulting in mental health issues, as well as claims that the company violated federal law by improperly collecting and using personal data of children. Meta's co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, along with Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, are set to testify in the trial.

The potential penalties, should the courts find Meta liable, could reach as high as $1.4 trillion, or approximately three years of Meta’s after-tax profit. The states are also seeking age restrictions, the removal of the infinite scroll, and other changes to Meta’s platforms.