A US court is examining whether Meta intentionally hooked a generation of children on Facebook and Instagram, as 29 states sue for billions over alleged privacy violations.

Lawyers argued that millions of under-13s were found using the platforms, with internal research showing features designed to increase time spent are ‘inherently at odds with well-being’.

Mega attorney Megan O'Neill highlighted documents exposing Meta's awareness of negative impacts on teen mental health, contrasting it with public statements. Meanwhile, Paul Schmidt argued that social media addiction does not exist and questioned whether the company could verify user ages effectively.

Despite Zuckerberg’s claims of prioritizing safety over profits, the trial will determine if Meta's business model truly aligns with ethical concerns or was merely a means to harvest data for commercial gain.