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States take Meta to trial in California in the biggest fight yet over social media harms to children
State attorneys general say Meta built Facebook and Instagram to keep children scrolling and collected data on users under 13 without parental consent.
- On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, a federal trial opened in Oakland, California, where a 29-state coalition accused Meta Platforms of designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children and violate federal privacy laws.
- Stemming from a 2023 lawsuit, the case alleges Meta intentionally manipulated users by exploiting psychological vulnerabilities, citing internal research titled 'The young ones are the best ones' to prioritize youth engagement over safety.
- Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar testified that leadership prioritized the 'move fast and break things' mantra over safety; Meta's counsel argued the company provides tools to support teens.
- Attorneys general seek structural changes like removing infinite scroll alongside damages estimated from $200 billion to $1.4 trillion, potentially threatening Meta's $1.5 trillion market value in Menlo Park, California.
- Experts compare this litigation to landmark 1990s tobacco settlements, noting the trial's outcome could force major product design changes and influence thousands of other pending social media lawsuits against Meta and competitors.
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Meta defends its child safety efforts but critics say the social media giant falls short
Meta is defending itself in a California federal court against allegations that its social media business poses harms to children and teenagers. Four states accuse Meta of contributing to the
·Flint, United States
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Complaint Filed Before NHRC Against Meta Over Underage Access, Child Data And Harmful Algorithms
NGO watchdog, Legal Rights Protection Forum, has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking an independent inquiry into Meta Platforms’ child-safety and data-privacy practices on Facebook and Instagram in India. In a complaint to the NHRC, they alleged that Meta’s platforms may be failing to effectively prevent underage children from accessing its services and raised concerns over age-assurance mechanisms, processing of child…
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Total News Sources735
Leaning Left135Leaning Right100Center223Last UpdatedBias Distribution49% Center
Bias Distribution
- 49% of the sources are Center
49% Center
L 29%
C 49%
R 22%
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