A federal jury trial began in Oakland on behalf of 29 state attorneys general against Meta Platforms, alleging Facebook and Instagram were designed to addict young users while concealing harms and collecting data from children under 13 in violation of federal privacy law. Meta estimates worst-case penalties could reach $1.4 trillion, though prosecutors told the court they are seeking closer to $200 billion. More damaging than fines, prosecutors and experts warn, would be court-ordered changes to core product mechanics that drive Meta's advertising revenue.
States are seeking to force removal of infinite scrolling, auto-playing videos, visible like counts, beauty filters, disappearing stories, and algorithm-dominated feeds for users under 18. They also want age restrictions, mandatory break-time limits during school and night hours, deletion of personal data collected from minors, and erasure of AI models trained on children's data. Meta argues the platforms include safety features and that the states' claims lack proof of actual deception or harm.
For product and platform architects, the stakes center on the injunction threat more than fines: any ruling stripping engagement-maximizing features would redefine social media's economic model. Meta's profit depends on impression volume, which infinite scroll and recommendation algorithms drive. A precedent in California—the company's home state and a jurisdiction with global influence—could accelerate similar suits against Snap, YouTube, and TikTok, reshaping how platforms balance growth with user protection. Prior trials resulted in New Mexico ordering Meta to hide like counts and impose time limits, with $942 million in combined penalties.