OAKLAND, Calif. — Tech giant Meta Platforms faced off on Tuesday against a bipartisan coalition of 29 U.S. states in what legal experts call the biggest regulatory and legal test yet of social media’s impact on young users. The landmark trial, which opened in an Oakland federal court, could fundamentally alter how some of the world's most popular platforms operate and carries potential financial penalties reaching into the hundreds of billions—or even trillions—of dollars.

The lawsuit, led by four core states—California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey—accuses Meta of intentionally designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and teenagers, fueling widespread anxiety, depression, and self-harm, while misleading the public about safety.

The Prosecution: "Hook, Hold, Harvest, and Hide"

During opening arguments, state prosecutors presented a stark view of Meta’s internal priorities, asserting that platform features were engineered specifically to maximize screen time at the expense of children's mental health.

Megan O'Neill, California Deputy Attorney General:

"Meta's business model was to hook the users, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data, and then hide the truth from the public."

Outside the courtroom, state leaders underscored that the lawsuit is aimed at protecting future generations from corporate negligence.

Rob Bonta, California Attorney General:

"This is about our children — the next generation, our kids. They deserve to be safe. And Meta has acted unlawfully here. We are here to hold them accountable."

In addition to state-level claims regarding design features, the eight-person jury will consider allegations from all 29 states that Meta violated federal law by improperly collecting and exploiting personal data from underage users.

Meta’s Defense: Disagreements Over Causation and Intent

Defense attorneys for Meta rejected claims that the company deliberately sought to addict young users or profit off their distress. While acknowledging broader societal concerns surrounding youth mental health, defense counsel argued that social media usage does not equate to clinical addiction.

Paul Schmidt, Legal Counsel for Meta Platforms:

"There is no dispute that some people face struggles from using social media... [However,] research shows no clear link between social media use by adolescents and a lack of well-being."

Schmidt added that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and company leaders have continuously worked to improve safety standards across their platforms rather than make them dangerous.

Families Speak Out Outside the Courthouse

While legal arguments unfolded inside, grieving parents assembled outside the federal courthouse to share stories of children lost to suicide and mental health crises, attributing their loss to algorithmic design.

Shannon Heacock, Mother of Elijah Heacock (died by suicide at age 16):

"This wasn't an accident. My son did not take his life. My son was killed. It's a design choice. A company that builds its platforms to maximize a child's engagement, click after click, at the cost of the child's safety... They knew what they were doing."

Erin Popolo, Mother of Emily "Emmy" Murillo (died by suicide at age 17):

"Emmy didn't want to die... What she could not survive was the hopelessness and the helplessness that was created and amplified by the design choices that Meta put in front of her."

Victoria Hinks, Mother of Alexandra "Owl" Hinks (died by suicide at age 16):

"Owl didn't die by accident. She died by design. Meta's own engineers built an algorithm that knew exactly what to show a struggling 16-year-old girl to keep her scrolling and what that content could do to her."

Stakes and High-Profile Testimony

The proceedings in Oakland represent just one front in a broader legal reckoning for the tech industry. Meta, along with platforms like Snap, TikTok, and YouTube, faces thousands of similar claims brought by municipalities, school districts, and private individuals.

Key figures, including Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, are expected to testify during the trial, which is scheduled to last six weeks.

Though the jury will deliver an advisory verdict, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final determination on Meta’s liability. Should liability be established, Judge Rogers could order major operational changes to Instagram and Facebook, as well as impose civil fines. Meta previously estimated potential penalties could reach up to $1.4 trillion.

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