Meta Faces $200 Billion Penalty in Child Safety Trial

A coalition of 29 US states is suing Meta Platforms Incorporated in a federal trial in Oakland, California, alleging the company designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children and teenagers. The states claim Meta violated federal law by improperly collecting data from children under 13, while four states specifically argue the platforms contribute to depression, anxiety, and suicide.

Former Meta data scientist George Volichenko testified that the adoption of an early safety feature called Take a Break was disappointing, with less than 1% of teenagers using the tool. Volichenko alleged that leadership ignored safety features that could harm business metrics and claimed a manager told him the wellbeing team existed partly to protect the company from future lawsuits.

Meta denies the allegations, asserting its research shows no clear link between social media use and poor adolescent well-being. The company highlighted its 2025 introduction of teen accounts with default safety restrictions, which it claims 97% of users aged 13-15 maintain. Instagram head Adam Mosseri is scheduled to testify on Tuesday regarding these safety policies.

If US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers finds the company liable following a jury verdict, Meta could face nearly $200 billion in civil penalties.