{
  "id": 1752394,
  "title": "Meta Faces Reckoning As Social Media Addiction Trial Begins",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/meta-faces-reckoning-as-social-media-addiction-trial-begins",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T16:27:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/legal/2026/meta-faces-reckoning-as-social-media-addiction-trial-begins/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A trial is underway in California to determine if Meta intentionally designed its apps to be addictive for children, according to a Reuters report on August 18. This case is seen as a major test for social media platforms facing similar youth safety lawsuits. Meta is being sued by attorneys general from 29 states who claim the company designed its Facebook and Instagram apps to hook teens and younger children, while also improperly collecting and using children's personal data, violating federal law. If the states win, Meta could face penalties of up to $1.4 trillion, though the plaintiffs are seeking closer to $200 billion. In addition to monetary damages, the plaintiffs are requesting the court to enforce age restrictions and remove features like \"infinite scroll\" from the apps. Meta has denied the allegations, stating that the claims are \"unsubstantiated\" and that it has robust protections for teens. The lawsuit stems from a 2023 investigation initiated by whistleblower Frances Haugen, who testified in 2021 that Meta prioritized profits over user safety despite internal research pointing to potential harms. High-profile witnesses, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, are expected to testify throughout the multi-week proceedings. The trial comes after a recent California jury found Meta and Google negligent for operating products that harmed kids and not warning about the danger, ordering the companies to pay a combined $3 million. The plaintiff's attorneys see the verdict as a referendum on the entire social media industry. Both Meta and Google have rejected the verdict, with Meta planning to appeal and Google planning to appeal a similar case in New Mexico.",
  "summary": "A trial to determine whether Meta purposely made its apps addictive to children is underway in California. That’s according to a report Tuesday (Aug. 18) from Reuters, which said the case marks the most significant test to date for social media platforms facing similar youth safety lawsuits. Meta is facing a group of attorneys general […] The post Meta Faces Reckoning As Social Media Addiction…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}