Meta hooked children and misled public: prosecutors
A U.S. federal trial has begun against Meta, with prosecutors alleging the company intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram to be addictive to children. The case, which seeks $200 billion in penalties, compares the situation to historical tobacco litigation.
Why it matters
This trial could set a major legal precedent for how social media companies are held accountable for the mental health impacts of their products on minors.
Meta knowingly hooked and exploited children, a U.S. federal court heard Tuesday (August 18, 2026) in a trial against the social media giant on charges that it deliberately made Instagram and Facebook addictive to young users.
In what many experts have called social media's "big tobacco moment," a coalition of States is asking that Meta be penalized by around $200 billion for designing products addictive to children.
The States are intervening where "Congress failed to act," Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday (August 18) afternoon during a press conference, noting that — like landmark cases against tobacco companies from decades past — this case, too, involved "public health, and in some cases, marketing to kids that hurt kids."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in