The closely watched trial between social media giant Meta and the state of Tennessee, in the United States opened on Monday, with state lawyers accusing the company of prioritising profits over the well-being of teenage users.
In opening statements before a Nashville jury, attorneys for Tennessee alleged that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, ignored its own internal research showing that excessive use of its platforms contributed to eating disorders, depression and self-harm among teenagers.
The state argued that despite repeated warnings from its researchers, Meta continued to use features such as autoplay, push notifications and infinite scrolling, which prosecutors said were deliberately designed to keep young users engaged for longer periods and expose them to more advertisements.
Meta rejected the allegations, with its legal team telling the court that the company has been transparent about the risks teenagers face online and the harmful content detected on its platforms.
The company said it actively identifies safety issues and implements measures to address them.
Tennessee’s lawsuit is one of 42 cases filed by U.S. states against Meta, adding to mounting legal challenges over the company’s alleged impact on young users. The case follows a significant setback for Meta in March, when a New Mexico jury found the company liable for harming children and ordered it to pay $375 million in civil penalties.
Meta is also facing thousands of similar lawsuits brought by families, school districts and state attorneys general, alleging that its social media platforms have negatively affected children’s mental health.
The Tennessee lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office, seeks financial penalties and a court order requiring Instagram to change features the state argues are harmful to teenagers.
If the jury finds Meta liable, the trial will move to a second phase in which the judge will determine the amount of damages.
In his opening statement, Tennessee attorney Tom Cartmell argued that Instagram’s design delivers dopamine-driven rewards that encourage addictive behaviour, particularly affecting the developing brains of children and teenagers.
