Meta faces $1.4 trillion penalty in landmark trial over teen addiction to social media

Meta is heading to court this week in yet another major trial over social media addiction and the alleged harms caused by its platforms. The case, which opens Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, could result in record-breaking penalties for the company — potentially reaching $1.4 trillion — and may feature testimony from top executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2023 by dozens of U.S. states, accusing Meta of intentionally designing addictive features in Instagram and Facebook and violating consumer protection laws. The legal action followed a multi-state investigation into the company's safety practices, which officials said revealed serious harm to children and teens. Meta lost a last-ditch effort to have the case dismissed last week, clearing the way for trial.

Presiding Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will hear claims from four states — California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey — that Meta violated state consumer protection laws by deliberately misleading the public about the safety of its apps. In addition, 29 states, including those four, are suing Meta for alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). The states argue that Meta knowingly allowed children under the age of 13 to use Instagram and Facebook and collected their personal data without proper consent, which is prohibited under federal law.

The trial is the latest test for Meta, which is already facing thousands of similar lawsuits over its handling of user safety and the impact of its apps on teen mental health. If the plaintiffs prevail, the company could be ordered to pay massive fines and implement sweeping changes to its platform design. The case is being closely watched as a potential landmark for regulating social media companies and their responsibility toward younger users.