States sue Meta over addictive Facebook and Instagram features in landmark trial

Meta is heading to federal court in Oakland in a landmark case brought by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey, which accuse the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep young users hooked and of misleading the public about the risks. The states say features like the like button, infinite scrolling, and recommendation systems were built to encourage compulsive use, while also alleging illegal collection of children’s data. The trial matters because it could expose Meta to major financial penalties and force changes to how its platforms work for teenagers and younger children.