OAKLAND, Calif. (TNND) — Meta is defending its record of protecting children and teenagers online as the technology giant faces a federal trial over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to keep young people hooked despite risks to their mental health.
Opening arguments kicked off on Tuesday in Oakland, where California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey are pursuing claims stemming from a broader lawsuit brought by nearly 30 states. The states accuse Meta of using addictive design features to increase engagement among young users, while misleading the public about the safety of its platforms.
Meta denies the allegations, adding that it has spent years developing protections for younger users.
The company points to measures including restrictions preventing unknown adults from messaging teenagers, warnings involving suicide and eating-disorder content, and tools encouraging users to take breaks from social media. In 2024, Instagram also introduced Teen Accounts, which automatically place younger users under stricter privacy and content settings.
Critics argue those safeguards don’t go far enough.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 18: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Los Angeles Superior Court after testifying on February 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. A 20-year-old California woman sued Meta and YouTube, accusing them of building addictive platforms that cause harm to children. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images)
Former Meta engineering director and whistleblower Arturo Béjar testified that the company took what he characterized as a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach to children under 13 using Instagram. He alleged Meta possessed technology capable of identifying underage users but failed to aggressively deploy it.
Béjar also criticized features such as Instagram’s “Take a Break” tool, arguing that requiring users to activate protections themselves limits their effectiveness.
“If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,” he said.
FILE – Former Facebook employee Arturo Bejar speaks during a rally to protect kids online on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Meta disputes claims that it prioritized profits over children’s safety and has argued that there is no scientific consensus establishing social media as the cause of widespread mental health problems among teenagers.
The California trial comes amid mounting legal pressure on the company.
Earlier in August, a New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund intended to address harms to young people. Combined with an earlier jury award, Meta was ordered to pay $942 million in that case and implement significant changes to protections for children on Facebook and Instagram. Meta has said it plans to appeal.
Meta also faces thousands of claims from families, school districts, and governments, alleging social media products contributed to addiction, depression, anxiety, and other harms.
The current federal trial could carry significant financial consequences and potentially force changes to how Facebook and Instagram operate for younger users.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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