Meta exploits youth: US states allege in court

A lawyer from the California attorney general’s office has accused Meta of deceiving the public. The company allegedly targeted children on Facebook and Instagram with technology designed to make them compulsive users. The stated goal? To drive up advertising revenue.

This legal battle kicked off with formal accusations from US states. Meta is in the hot seat, with prosecutors claiming deceptive practices. They allege years of deliberate actions to hook younger users onto their platforms.

On August 18, 2026, a California attorney general's office lawyer told a jury that Meta Platforms Inc. intentionally deceived the public. The lawyer stated Meta targeted children on Facebook and Instagram to turn them into compulsive users.

The prosecution claims Meta implemented specific design features. These features allegedly maximized time spent on social media, turning casual use into a hard-to-break habit. Algorithms and optimized notifications are reportedly part of this strategy.

The core of the issue lies in the platforms' design. It's not, they argue, a coincidence that Instagram and Facebook are so "engaging." State attorneys accuse Meta of creating a digital environment that encourages excessive use, especially among minors.

States allege Meta intentionally designed Facebook and Instagram with features meant to make young users compulsive. This design, according to the states, was solely to increase the company's advertising revenue.