29 US States Sue Meta Over Teen Harm in $200 Billion Trial

A landmark $200 billion trial has opened against Meta, with 29 states alleging Facebook and Instagram were deliberately designed to addict children.

Twenty-nine US states are pursuing what could become a $200 billion lawsuit against Meta, alleging the company knowingly built addictive features into Facebook and Instagram that harm young users — one of the largest coordinated legal actions against a tech company in American history. State attorneys general claim Meta conducted internal research that demonstrated harm to teenagers and then concealed those findings, prioritizing engagement and profit over child safety. Among the most striking testimony came from Arturo Béjar, a former Meta safety engineer, who told the jury that Zuckerberg personally misrepresented the company's concern for child safety. Béjar alleged that Meta was internally aware of its products' potential to harm children even as executives offered public reassurances to the contrary. A separate report by the Tech Transparency Project, cited in the coverage, found that Meta has recruited social media influencers to promote its teen-focused safety features whenever governments consider new platform regulations — a pattern the report frames as a coordinated public relations strategy rather than a genuine safety initiative. New Mexico's attorney general, Raúl Torrez, is already acting on a prior $900 million court victory against Meta in his state, drafting two new bills with state lawmakers aimed at strengthening consumer protections and child safety online. His office's case is being held up as a model for how states can use litigation to drive legislative change.

Why it matters

The trial's outcome could reshape how social media platforms are designed and regulated for minors across the United States, and a ruling against Meta could set a legal precedent affecting the entire industry. With potential damages reaching $200 billion, it also represents one of the most consequential corporate liability cases involving a major tech platform.

What's next

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is drafting two new child safety and consumer protection bills that could serve as a legislative template for other states following the trial's progress.

Key facts

• 29 US states are party to the lawsuit against Meta, with potential damages of $200 billion
• Former Meta safety engineer Arturo Béjar testified that Zuckerberg lied about the company's concern for child safety
• State attorneys general allege Meta concealed internal research showing its platforms were harmful and addictive to teens
• New Mexico previously secured a $900 million court victory against Meta in a related case
• New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez is drafting two new bills to strengthen child safety laws, building on that victory
• The Tech Transparency Project found Meta recruits influencers to promote safety features whenever platform regulation is being considered

Bias & framing notes

All six sources are from The Guardian, meaning there is no independent outlet corroboration — the trust score reflects source quality and specificity of claims (trial testimony, named officials, a named report) rather than cross-outlet verification. Coverage is heavily framed around the prosecution's case and critic perspectives; Meta's defense arguments and official responses are largely absent from the reporting, leaving the stated_rationale thin. The Tech Transparency Project, cited as a source, is an advocacy-oriented watchdog group, which adds a secondary framing layer to claims about Meta's influencer strategy.

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