A federal trial opened in Oakland on allegations that Meta knowingly designed addictive features on Facebook and Instagram to addict young users and conceal the mental health risks, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta and counterparts from Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, claims Meta violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and state consumer protection laws by illegally collecting data on children under 13, designing features that drove excessive use, and misleading users and families about safety risks. The attorneys general argue that excessive time online is associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and disruption of sleep and school performance.
The states previously won court decisions rejecting Meta's attempts to dismiss the lawsuit in 2024 and blocking Meta's summary judgment motion in June 2026. Multiple state attorneys general have joined the case. According to Bonta, the trial aims to determine whether Meta prioritized profit over the safety of young people using its platforms.