Markets· August 17, 2026 at 12:02 p.m.
Meta Faces Allegations of Child Addiction and Data Collection in Federal Trial
Key takeaways
- Meta faces accusations of child addiction and data collection
- The trial is expected to last six weeks
- Up to $1.4 trillion in penalties are being sought
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing accusations from four states that it deliberately designed its platforms to hook children and collect their data without parental consent. The trial, which began on Tuesday in Oakland, California, is expected to last six weeks and could result in penalties worth up to $1.4 trillion. The states allege Meta engineered features like infinite scroll, autoplay, the 'like' button, and recommendation algorithms to keep young users engaged for longer periods.
