Opening statements began Tuesday in a federal court in Oakland as four states—California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—lead a $1.4 trillion damage claim against Meta for allegedly hooking children on Facebook and Instagram. Other filings cite a $200 billion target. The trial is slated for six to eight weeks, with a verdict expected by October.
Attorneys general Megan O’Neill of California and her counterparts presented internal research, emails and chat logs showing features designed to increase time spent, while Meta’s lawyer Paul Schmidt disputed the findings and argued the company has built meaningful safety tools. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will oversee the case, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify.
If the jury awards damages or orders substantive changes, Meta could be forced to redesign core platform functions, tighten age‑verification, and alter data‑harvesting practices, setting a precedent for broader regulatory action against social‑media firms. The outcome may also influence pending state lawsuits and shape future congressional scrutiny of tech‑company child‑safety policies.
The filings diverge on the monetary target: one source cites a potential $1.4 trillion liability, while another references a $200 billion claim. They also differ on the existence of social‑media addiction, with the states’ side asserting clear harm and Meta’s counsel maintaining no proven addiction link.