Multi-State Lawsuit Accuses Meta of Designing Addictive Platforms for Teens

Lawyers for 29 U.S. states allege that Meta Platforms deliberately built Instagram and Facebook features that hook teenagers, despite internal research indicating harm. The case opened in federal court in Oakland, California, and is slated to run six to eight weeks. Plaintiffs will present internal documents, including a memo stating “Teens are hooked despite how it makes them feel. Instagram is addictive,” and testimony from former employee Arturo Béjar, as well as Meta CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Adam Mosseri.

The Guardian

The 233-page complaint was first filed in October 2023 and follows a series of state actions against Meta. In a related New Mexico case, a judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million, bringing the company’s total liability to that state to $942 million. Earlier this year, Meta and YouTube lost a separate federal trial and were ordered to pay $6 million to a plaintiff. The current suit mirrors litigation strategies used against tobacco companies in the 1990s, which ultimately produced a $200 billion settlement and mandated marketing reforms.

The Guardian

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said the states are applying the “tobacco blueprint” to show Meta concealed what it knew about youth harm. Meta’s defense, presented by lawyer Paul Schmidt, argues the cited internal documents are taken out of context and that the company has disabled more than one million accounts belonging to children under 13, describing its actions as “meaningful” protection. A company spokesperson characterized the states’ claims as “outlandish” and “vastly disproportionate,” asserting no proof that residents were misled.

The Guardian

Attorneys general estimate that a liability finding could result in damages up to $200 billion—an amount comparable to Meta’s projected 2025 revenue. The lawsuit also seeks a court order compelling Meta to redesign its products to enhance child safety, a remedy that could have long-term operational impacts beyond any monetary penalty.

The Guardian

• “I heard from many of you at jury selection that the health and wellbeing of kids is a shared responsibility,” — Megan O’Neill, deputy attorney general for California (opening statement).

The Guardian

• “Teens are hooked despite how it makes them feel. Instagram is addictive.” — Snap. Meta, lawyer (internal document).

The Guardian