Designed to Fail
Meta is on trial in California, accused by a coalition of 29 states of deliberately making Facebook and Instagram addictive to children. The trial began this week and is expected to last around six weeks.
Prosecutors argue that Meta intentionally designed features to hook young users and keep them online, harvesting their data while downplaying the risks. The states allege that Meta lied about the dangers to minors and made it easy for children to bypass screen-time limits, comparing the case to historic lawsuits against tobacco companies for targeting youth.
A former Meta engineering director testified that some of the company's safety tools were "designed to fail". Features like 'Take a Break' were optional rather than default. He claimed Meta prioritised engagement and revenue over user safety, making it easier for children to spend more time on the platforms. Meta maintains it worked with parents and experts to create safeguards.
The trial could force Meta to pay up to $200 billion in penalties and make sweeping changes to its apps. Activists and families rallied outside the court, highlighting alleged links between social media use and youth harm.
With Meta as the sole defendant, the outcome could set a precedent for future lawsuits against other tech companies. If a company that makes products used by billions of people can be held accountable for designing them to be addictive, the entire attention economy shifts.
$200 billion. That is what 29 states think the damage is worth. For context, Meta's annual revenue is around $150 billion. This is not a slap on the wrist. This is a bet on whether the legal system can move faster than the algorithm.