Lawsuit Challenges Meta's Role in Social Media Addiction Among Children

Tuesday, 18 August 2026, 20:31

Lawsuit against Meta highlights social media addiction claims in federal court. States seek billions for alleged harms to children's mental health. The outcome could reshape Meta’s operations in social media.

Cbsnews — Lawsuit Challenges Meta's Role in Social Media Addiction Among Children

Lawsuit Against Meta: A Federal Trial Commences

Opening statements kicked off Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court, where states are seeking billions of dollars in damages for social media harms to children. Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are pursuing a financial penalty that could total as much as $1.4 trillion, alongside changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram.

Legal Stakes Amplified

The states are among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy.
Meta faces lawsuits across various state courts.

The lawsuit accuses the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features that addict children to its platforms. Furthermore, it argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents' consent, in direct violation of federal law. Megan O’Neill, a deputy California attorney general, disclosed to the jury that Meta’s business model is inherently flawed.

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