wire / 2026-08-12-24c6
Meta Faces First U.S. Federal Trial Over AI-Driven Social Media Addiction in Minors
Meta's first federal jury trial over kids and its feed opens in Oakland. Endless scroll and push notifications get their day in court.
The facts
Meta is facing its first U.S. federal court trial in Oakland, California, accused of causing addiction and psychological harm to minors through AI-driven features on Instagram and Facebook. The lawsuit, brought by four states, targets engagement algorithms like endless scrolling and notifications, alleging these systems foster harmful dependency among young users.