Meta faces multi‑state teen safety trial

A coalition of 29 states has opened a federal trial in Oakland, California, alleging that Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to hook young users, harvest their data and conceal potential harms. California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are leading the case at trial. The states say they will seek changes to product design and substantial civil penalties if the court ultimately finds Meta liable. The proceedings are expected to last roughly six weeks before an eight‑person advisory jury.

In opening statements, state lawyers said they will present internal Meta research and witness testimony to argue that the company pursued engagement metrics among children and teens. They highlighted claims that platform features were engineered to hold users’ attention for as long as possible. The states have asked the court to consider remedies such as altering or removing certain engagement tools and imposing guardrails for younger users.

The states point to specific product features as central to their case, including likes, infinite scroll and short‑form video formats. They argue these tools help drive compulsive use among young people and contribute to harmful experiences. As part of the requested relief, the states want the court to consider removing likes and infinite scroll, imposing time limits for younger users and enforcing measures to keep children under 13 off the platforms.

State attorneys also emphasized that internal metrics such as "teen time spent" were used to track young users’ engagement. They contend that these metrics show the company’s focus on maximizing the time children and teenagers spend on Meta’s services. The states plan to rely on internal documents to support their claims about design choices and data practices.

Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar took the stand as the states’ first witness following opening statements and has continued his testimony on subsequent court days. Béjar testified that Meta’s internal culture prioritized rapid product launches, referencing the company mantra "move fast and break things." He told jurors that safety was often treated as an afterthought during development.

Béjar said some products, including short‑form video features, were shipped without safety being a core consideration. He described a gap between Meta’s focus on the prevalence of policy‑violating content and users’ actual experience of harm. According to his testimony, internal research indicating high levels of harm was not effectively used to make products safer for young users.

Meta sought to block Béjar from testifying, arguing in part that deleted Signal messages should disqualify him. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected that request and allowed his testimony to proceed. The judge’s decision ensured that Béjar’s account of Meta’s internal practices would be heard by the advisory jury.

Meta denies the states’ allegations and contends that it has worked to protect young users on its platforms. Company counsel told jurors that internal documents have been taken out of context and that employees sometimes use loose language in private communications. The trial will continue in Oakland, with further witnesses expected over the coming weeks as both sides present their evidence.