Transcript
SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:
Meta will head to federal court today to try to fend off accusations that it designed its social media platforms to hook children. The case is part of a wave of lawsuits trying to hold social media companies accountable for how they design their products. NPR’s John Ruwitch has more.
JOHN RUWITCH, BYLINE: California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are seeking an estimated $1.4 trillion in penalties under consumer protection and childhood online privacy laws. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport spoke to NPR about the case.
JENNIFER DAVENPORT: As we alleged in our complaint, and what we’re prepared to prove at trial, is that they’re deceiving consumers about Facebook and Instagram’s dangers.
RUWITCH: The lawsuit alleges that things like the like button, infinite scroll and recommendation algorithms that encourage compulsive use were designed by Meta to capture young people’s attention and keep them on longer.
DAVENPORT: They’re putting the profits, like I said, before, over the health of a generation of young people. And they’re illegally collecting personal data of children under the age of 13.
RUWITCH: Meta denies the allegations and says there’s no proof that it misled anyone. It also says it created strong protections for teens like notification muting at night, stringent privacy settings and a 1-hour timer on Instagram to limit exposure. The trial in Oakland, California, is expected to last about six weeks. Nora Freeman Engstrom, a professor of law at Stanford University, says it will cast a spotlight on what Meta knew about the effects its products have on young people.
NORA FREEMAN ENGSTROM: The significance of this litigation isn’t limited to who wins or how much Meta pays. The litigation itself can substantially change what the public knows.
RUWITCH: And she says that could move public opinion or catalyze regulatory action to rein in social media companies like trials against cigarette companies once did. Meta has lost two trials already this year over similar concerns. And there are thousands of other cases against social media companies still pending from individuals, school districts and states. Gaia Bernstein is a professor at the Seton Hall Law School.
GAIA BERNSTEIN: I think it’s all part of a movement to hold social media companies accountable.
RUWITCH: Other social media companies have settled similar cases, and she suspects Meta may eventually follow suit.
BERNSTEIN: So the question is, when does it become the breaking point that it’s not worthwhile to keep going?
RUWITCH: For now, Meta is fighting. The stakes are high. And some legal experts think if it loses, it could try to appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. John Ruwitch, NPR News.
PFEIFFER: And a note that Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which was founded by Meta CEO and his wife, is a financial supporter of NPR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
